Inaugural Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) chief executive Behyad Jafari says he will be stepping down, with former Polestar Australian managing director Samantha Johnson becoming interim chief executive.
Jafari has led the EVC over the past eight years, which he says marked a tremendous amount of change for the Australian EV industry.
“I am hugely proud of the historic outcomes our members and our team of experts have achieved to support our mission of accelerating the electrification of Australian transport,” says Jafari.
“A sustainable and prosperous Australia requires an electric fleet and we are now established on that path.
“Seeing New Vehicle Efficiency Standards passed into law represented a major milestone for our industry, and I think it also created a natural time for me to step aside and let another leader continue to build the EVC and the industry into the future.”
Jafari says he’s thrilled to see a senior executive of Johnson’s experience and ability become the EVC’s interim chief executive.
“Samantha is one of only a few executives with experience in launching an automotive brand in Australia,” he says.
“As interim chief executive, Samantha takes on the temporary role focused on working with the team and our members in refreshing the organisation, strategy and member value proposition of the EVC, as well as recruiting a permanent CEO.”
Jafari will continue to serve as an adviser to the EVC, supporting Johnson in the transition until July 31, 2024.
