MIP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Founding Team of Mobility Impact Partners
As Partner for Business Development and a member of the founding team of Mobility Impact Partners, Amar brings his unique vantage point to identify opportunities and drive innovation. His experience spans roles at Energy Impact Partners, IBM and various energy and industrial solutions companies, including having founded six businesses in the mobility and energy sectors.
Andrew Flett has spent nearly three decades in private equity. Widely regarded in the transportation technology sector for his numerous successful investments, Andrew's global transaction experience covers the United States, Canada, Western Europe and Asia. This includes buyouts, carveouts, growth equity and venture capital. Andrew began his private equity journey at Investcorp Technology Partners and later founded Growth Control Capital, emphasizing connected vehicle technologies. Beyond his professional milestones, he has been a stalwart in the startup ecosystem, mentoring hundreds of companies, both informally and through affiliations with the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator in New York and The Lazaridis Institute at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo. A native Canadian, Andrew is fluent in French and has a strong command of Spanish. He earned a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is steadfast in his belief that nurturing exceptional companies yields superior investment returns.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner of Research
Asad Hussain serves as the Partner of Research at MIP. In this role, he co-leads the development of MIP's investment theses, evaluates emerging trends and technologies, and leads the identification and sourcing of potential solutions. Previously, Asad was a Senior Analyst at Pitchbook, where he developed Pitchbook's mobility startup database and led the research coverage of privately-held mobility companies. This coverage spanned various domains, including autonomous driving, electric vehicles, ride-hailing, carsharing, micromobility, last-mile delivery, and advanced air mobility. At Pitchbook, he also provided specialized transaction guidance to corporate and institutional investors targeting mobility investments. Before joining Pitchbook, he worked as an Equity Research Analyst at both Westwood Holdings (an investment firm overseeing $16B AUM) and Arrowmark Partners (an investment firm with $21B AUM), concentrating on the technology and industrial sectors. Asad has been internationally recognized as a thought leader in the mobility space, and his commentary has been featured in the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and other Tier-1 media outlets. As a Harvard College graduate with an AB in Economics, Asad is passionate about using his analytical and research skills to drive innovation and growth within the mobility industry.
Job Titles:
- Distinguished Leader in Transportation Policy and Administration
Bill Graves is a distinguished leader in transportation policy and administration. As the 43rd Governor of Kansas from 1995 to 2003, Graves was instrumental in advancing the state's transportation infrastructure. His tenure was marked by the signing of a landmark $13-billion comprehensive transportation program, which significantly enhanced highways, railroad infrastructure, airports, and public transit services across Kansas. Following his governorship, Bill Graves made significant contributions to the transportation sector as the President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate at Mobility Impact Partners
Cassidy Shell, Senior Associate at Mobility Impact Partners, is deeply committed to sustainable innovation in the transportation sector. At MIP, Cassidy plays a pivotal role within the Research and Strategy team, leading research initiatives focused on transportation, mobility, and logistics innovation. Her expertise spans market landscaping, value chain analysis, start-up scouting, and investment/financial analysis. Before joining MIP, Cassidy served as the Senior Associate and Transportation and Logistics Lead at Cleantech Group. There, she authored widely referenced research across transportation, supply chain, industrials, and clean energy sectors, and connected industry-leading corporates, venture capital investors, and emerging entrepreneurs, fostering sustainable innovation opportunities. Cassidy is a Davidson College graduate with a BA in Environmental Studies and Economics.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Managing Partner of Freshwater Advisors
- Innovative Leader Connecting Startups With Fortune 500 Companies for Transformative Growth
David Weinstein, the Founder and managing partner of Freshwater Advisors, has a rich history of catalyzing innovation within Fortune 500 companies. His previous role as the CTO of the City of Chicago showcased his ability to drive technological advancements at a municipal level. Weinstein's current board and advisory roles, spanning companies like Pando, Uptake Technologies, and Facedrive, further underscore his commitment to fostering innovation across sectors.
Dennis Cuneo, an experienced automotive executive, has served on the Boards of BorgWarner, AK Steel, and the Center for Auto Research. Formerly a senior vice president with Toyota, he played a pivotal role in launching the company's manufacturing operations in North America. After retiring from Toyota in 2006, he founded DC Strategic Advisors LLC, a consulting firm offering strategic business advice and site selection services.
Harald Norvik, a seasoned executive, formerly held positions as chairman, president, and chief executive of Norwegian oil firm Statoil. He was also the chairman of telecommunications company Telenor and a director of ConocoPhillips.
Jim Hackett served as CEO and President of Ford Motor Company from 2017 to 2020, was a board member until 2021, and is now a special advisor to the company. Before Ford, he was the CEO of Steelcase. He currently serves on the boards of State Farm, NuScale, La-Z-boy, and others.
John Abbott served as a Board Director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV from 2018-2021. Before that, he was the Downstream Director and a member of the Executive Committee of Royal Dutch Shell plc from 2013 to 2019. John is currently a Non-Executive Director of Inter Continental Exchange Futures Europe and Neste Oyj.
John Engler, a dedicated public servant, served three terms as the Governor of Michigan. Before his gubernatorial tenure, he spent twenty years in the Michigan state legislature and later served as President of Michigan State University. Since leaving public service, Engler has held leadership roles in the automotive, transportation, and manufacturing sectors and currently serves as CEO of Business Roundtable.
John Tully joins MIP with nearly 30 years of experience spanning corporate strategy, commodities and banking. Prior to joining MIP, John was responsible for Strategy and Business Development for Pilot Flying J's (PFJ) Energy Division. Notably, this effort included founding Pilot's venture capital group, establishing and leading the Investment Committee, as well as managing ongoing relationships. John also ran M&A for the energy and transportation businesses, deploying over $1.5bn in capital. In addition, John oversaw the energy transition efforts for PFJ's fueling business, including investments and partnerships in EV, Hydrogen, Carbon Offsets and other transition fuels. Prior to joining PFJ John was with Goldman Sachs for 22 years where he held a number of roles focused in the energy and power space, ultimately as Managing Director and Head of North American Commodity Energy Sales. John graduated from SUNY Albany with a B.S. in Finance.
Lisa Wood is a nationally recognized expert on energy issues and the electric power industry. While at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) from 2008 to 2023, Wood served as Vice President of Customer Solutions, Vice President of The Edison Foundation, and the founding Executive Director of EEI's Institute for Electric Innovation (IEI). Wood currently serves on the Board of Advisors for Mobility Impact Partners, as a Distinguished Associate for the Energy Futures Initiative, and as a Strategic Advisor to VEIR.
Liz Kerton is a trailblazer in the technology and automotive sectors. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Autotech Council and the President and CEO of the Telecom Council. Kerton also leads her own firm, the Kerton Group, advising businesses in the telecommunications industry on emerging technologies.
Mark Gainsborough was an Executive Vice President at Shell, where he led their New Energies group, focusing on innovative strategies and products for new mobility, including Shell's venture efforts. Before that, Mark was EVP of Global Commercial, with extensive experience across the downstream oil business.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Member of the Investment Committee
Matthew Nordan, Founding Partner of MIP, is a seasoned private equity investor with over 25 years of experience in cutting-edge innovation. As a General Partner at Azolla Ventures, Matthew invests in breakthrough climate tech startups and manages over $250 million across two funds. His investment acumen was honed at Venrock, where he drove the firm's investment in Nest Labs and worked closely with portfolio company Lucid Motors. Matthew co-founded and led MNL Partners, a holding company backed by high-net worth family offices in the U.S. and China. His early career includes co-founding Lux Research, an advisory services firm for science-driven innovation, and serving as an executive at emerging technology advisor Forrester Research. Matthew serves on the boards of numerous tech startups and Greentown Labs, the world's largest incubator for climate and energy startups.
Peter Schwarzenbauer has held significant positions at BMW AG, BMW of North America, and other leading automotive companies, showcasing his expertise in the industry.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Energy Supply and Finance at Edison Electric Institute
Richard McMahon is the Senior Vice President of Energy Supply and Finance at Edison Electric Institute and the founder of the EnviroTech Venture Capital Fund. He has been at the forefront of industry voluntary ESG sustainability initiatives, including the recent EEI ESG reporting template and the development of the Natural Gas Supply Chain Sustainability Initiative (NGSI). As an industry spokesperson, McMahon has addressed key issues ranging from natural gas and tax to renewable energy and finance. He has testified before numerous federal and state agencies, including the United States Congress, CFTC, FERC, DOE, and SEC.
Job Titles:
- Formerly the Global Managing Partner
Richard Spitzer, formerly the Global Managing Partner for Accenture Automotive and Industrials Group, boasts a global track record of collaborating with top Global 2000 companies. His expertise spans across various sectors, with a particular emphasis on automotive and industrial innovations. Currently, as the Managing Director of venture capital firm Escavel Capital, he continues to shape the future of industry-focused investments.
Rodney Slater, the former US Secretary of Transportation, has dedicated his career to the development and promotion of a safer, more efficient, and environmentally sound transportation system. Throughout his tenure, he emphasized the importance of integrating transportation interests into the broader vision for the 21st century. Beyond his governmental roles, Slater actively advises companies on how to align their interests with the evolving global transportation landscape.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner of Strategy
Shay Natarajan serves as the Partner of Strategy at MIP. In this role, she collaboratively guides the creation of MIP's investment theses and liaises closely with MIP's LPs to discern their mobility challenges and pinpoint business opportunities. Shay has extensive experience in strategy development and business transformation. At Caterpillar, she served as the Head of Enterprise Strategic Initiatives, identifying pivotal growth prospects for the firm. Earlier, during a five-year tenure at McKinsey & Company, she held senior positions, advising CXOs of premier industrial and tech enterprises on addressing their critical challenges. Before McKinsey, Shay directed business strategy and operations for iPhone components and accessories at Apple. Before moving into business roles, Shay gained her foundational engineering experience at 3M and Honeywell. Shay holds both a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, marked by her highly-cited research into semiconductor physics and gas turbine combustion. Shay is a board member of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and sits on the Battery Secondary Use committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Additionally, she advises startups in the mobility, fintech, and femtech sectors. Shay's insights on mobility strategy have earned features in prominent outlets such as the New York Times and Bloomberg.
Stephanie Hazell, with a rich background in telecommunications and energy, has held senior roles at companies like National Grid, Virgin, The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, and Orange. She is now an Industrial Partner at Infracapital Partners and serves on the boards of Shell New Energy Ventures, SSE Telecoms, and Eteck B.V.
Steve Hellman is a seasoned entrepreneur. He co-founded Energy Impact Partners, transforming it into a premier private equity firm for the new energy economy. Additionally, he founded Eos Energy Storage (NASDAQ: EOSE), Convergent Energy & Power (an energy storage asset developer), Enernet Global (a microgrid solutions developer), and several other ventures including a global energy trading company, a tanker fleet, a SaaS platform for energy transactions, and a commercial real estate business. In 2006-7, Steve served as an Advisor to the US State Department, collaborating with Eurasian Heads of State and Senior Ministers to address energy conflicts and strategize on oil and gas infrastructure. Fluent in Russian and Chinese, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Steve earned an MA in Industrial Engineering and a BS in Political Science and Slavic Languages from Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa, 1987).
Steve Holliday, with a long-standing career in the energy and utility industries, currently serves as President of the Energy Institute. He was the CEO of National Grid for nearly a decade and previously held the position of Executive Director at British Borneo Oil and Gas. Holliday began his illustrious career at Exxon.
Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy from 2009 to 2013. His research at Stanford University and Bell Labs focused on physics and molecular biology. A staunch advocate for renewable energy and nuclear power to combat climate change, he also serves as the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Leader With a Knack for Corporate Transformation
Ted Craver was the chairman, president, and CEO of Edison International from 2008 to 2016. After joining Edison in 1996, he held various senior management roles. Currently, Craver is a board member of Wells Fargo and Duke Energy Corporation, a senior advisor to both the Blackstone Group and Bain & Company, and a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Economic Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Bain & Company
- Strategic Advisor at the Crossroads of Mobility, Technology, and Corporate Innovation
Tom Wendt, a partner at Bain & Company, specializes in guiding technology, automotive, and mobility-focused companies towards success. With a background that includes a similar capacity at Roland Berger, Wendt possesses a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of mobility and technology. His passion lies in fostering innovation, whether through venture capital or corporate strategies, making him a sought-after expert in the field.
Job Titles:
- Director of Ford Motor Company
Tony Earley is a Director of Ford Motor Company, the Southern Company, and ClearResult. He served as the Chairman, CEO, and President of PG&E Corporation from September 2011 to February 2017. Before joining PG&E, he held various executive roles at DTE Energy. Mr. Earley also served as an officer in the US Navy's nuclear submarine program. He is currently the Board Chairman of the Detroit Zoological Society and a Board member of United Way Worldwide.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner at Hobbes & Towne
Wes Goldstein is a Managing Partner at Hobbes & Towne, an executive search and advisory services firm. Specializing in the energy and technology sectors, Goldstein advises businesses and builds successful management teams, primarily for early-stage firms. He has also launched two venture-backed businesses outside of Hobbes & Towne and played a key role in structuring the sale of a healthcare company he previously worked for.
Job Titles:
- Investor and Tech Expert Bridging the Innovation Gap Between the U.S. and Japan
Yoshi Tojo stands out for his deep expertise in the development, introduction, and adoption of new technologies in both the U.S. and Japan. Having served in several public entities like JETRO, NEDO, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry for the Government of Japan, Tojo has a unique perspective on international tech collaboration. Presently, he helms Senesens, his consulting and investment firm, focusing on seed-stage technological advancements.