8 sep 22
Fil d'Actus

EV startup VinFast appoints three key executives

EV startup VinFast appoints three key executives

Vietnam-based VinFast, a new player in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, has just announced three key appointments to accelerate its global rollout. 

  • Eric Lelarge now heads Global B2B Sales,
  • Benjamin Huvé is Director of Global Leasing and Rental Companies, and
  • Kevin Neal has been appointed VP for B2B sales in the U.S.

All three executives have extensive experience in the automotive space. 

Mr. Lelarge’s previous role was general manager of mobility services and insurance products at BMW Financial Services North America. His particular areas of responsibility were Corporate Fleet, Insurance and Subscription/Mobility. His prior experience in the international leasing and fleet management industry includes stints at Alphabet, ING Car Lease and LeasePlan. He will be based at VinFast’s global HQ in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Mr. Huvé’s promotion is internal. Prior to his new role, he was VinFast’s Country B2B Sales Manager for France for eight months. For the previous 16 years, he worked in various roles for ALD Automotive, most recently as director of Business Intelligence and Consultancy. He remains based in France. 

Mr. Neal’s previous role was global corporate fleet sales director for LeasePlan. Before that, he was director of operations and global corporate sales for Nissan (2013-19). He is based in Alpharetta, Georgia. 

Founded in 2017, VinFast is the first Vietnamese car brand to go global, and to expand into EVs. The company plans to open an assembly plant for eSUVs for the American market near Raleigh in South Carolina in July 2024. There are also plans to open a plant in Germany. 

Image: Shutterstock

Authored by: Frank Jacobs