Karma Automotive Names New VP Of Global Finance

July 19, 2019 by Karma Automotive

•Leads Dedicated Business Unit Established to Create Strategic Investments and Drive Partnerships

•Brings Important IPO Experience & Ability to Grow Strategic Investors

•Key Assignment: Drive Business Growth, Invest in Technology Companies, Build Partnerships

IRVINE, Calif. (July 19, 2019) – Leo Lin, an expert financial executive recognized for helping brands realize rapid growth, has joined Southern California-based Karma Automotive as Vice President of Global Finance, leading Karma Capital, a new business unit created to seek out strategic investments and drive partnerships.

'Leo's deep experience guiding brands through rapid growth periods will help make Karma more diversified and open to new market opportunities beyond the traditional automotive model which focuses purely on design, manufacturing and retail,' says Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou. 'He will help lead our technology investments and drive to establish new financial partnerships.'

Karma Capital is among a growing list of dedicated business units Zhou is creating to maximize the company's value through a blend of independent product and technology development, collaborative partnerships to access new innovation, and syndicate internal engineering and customization capabilities. The new unit is tasked with making strategic investments in automotive technology companies, helping Karma sell or license its engineering resources and intellectual property, and securing new investors.

Lin comes to Karma from NIO USA, a Chinese-owned automobile manufacturer specializing in designing and developing electric autonomous vehicles, where he was VP of Finance and was among the core group first hired to establish the presence of the company's North America headquarters. At NIO, Lin managed the company's financial and operational infrastructure, helping to set the stage for a $1.8 billion initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange last year.

Lin also served as CFO for both Red Digital Cinema, a renowned high-end brand of cinematography cameras, and Red Hydrogen, a new generation of smart phone maker. Prior to that, he held several positions at Monster, Inc., one of the most recognized consumer electronics accessories, most famous for its high-performance audio/video cables, power centers and headphones (Beats & Monster), ultimately serving as VP of Finance & Corporate Strategy, Chief Financial Officer. There, he helped reposition the company on the growth path to over $1 billion.

'I'm excited to join Karma Automotive at perhaps the most important time in its five-year history,' Lin says, citing Karma's Q3 launch of its 2020 Revero GT luxury electric vehicle to be followed by all-new fully-electrified global platform in 2021. 'Karma's impressive engineering and design expertise is attracting the kind of business partners we need to speed our technology and product development and appeal to new investors.'

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Lin earned his B.A. in English & Maritime Commerce from Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China; his MBA in Finance & International Business from the University of San Francisco; and completed the Harvard Business School's Executive Program on Corporate Strategies.