Leadership
Yang Wu
Yang Wu founded Microvast in December 2006 and is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and President of the company. Mr. Wu is an experienced entrepreneur, with Microvast being his eighth successful business.
Before starting Microvast, he founded water purification business Omex Environmental Engineering in 2000. The Omex company was acquired by Dow Chemical in 2006, resulting in a 55x return on investment in five years.
Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Petroleum University.
He is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Zach Ward
Zach Ward was appointed as President, Microvast Energy on August 1, 2022. He has served as Microvast’s Senior Vice President of Energy Solutions since January 2022. Prior to joining Microvast, he served as General Manager at Chint Power Systems Americas from November 2020 to February 2021. From November 2017 to November 2020, he served as Head of North America Division at Sungrow USA. He also served in different management positions at Axis Technical Sales, Array Technologies, PanelClaw and Advanced Energy Industries. Prior to working in the renewable energy market, he held various management positions in the semiconductor equipment industry at Advanced Energy Industries and Semitool. Mr. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University.
Sascha Rene Kelterborn
Sascha Rene Kelterborn was appointed Chief Revenue Officer on July 23, 2021. Mr. Kelterborn served as President of our Group from April 2022 to January 2023. He has also been Managing Director of Microvast EMEA since February 2021. From January 2018 until February 2021, he was Microvast’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Western Globe. He served as Managing Director of MPS and of Microvast EMEA since June 2017, after joining Microvast as Deputy Managing Director of Microvast GMBH in January 2017.
Prior to joining us, he served as Managing Director of Kelterborn & Partner, providing consulting services to the railway, building supply, and industrial sector from January 2015 to January 2017.
From December 2007 until November 2014, he served in numerous positions with Vossloh AG, Werdohl, Germany, including Vice President CIS & Mongolia (December 2010 to November 2014) and Vice President Sales (December 2007 to November 2010). At times during his engagement with Vossloh AG, he also served in the following positions: President of Vossloh Fastening Systems America Corp., Chicago, IL; Regional Director Vossloh Middle East Business Rail LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE; member of the International Sales Steering Committee of the Vossloh AG; member of the supervisory board of ZAO Vossloh Fastening Systems, Moscow, Russia; and member of the supervisory board of Vossloh Fastening Systems, Kunshan, China.
Mr. Kelterborn holds a BA from the University of Applied Science in Kiel, Germany.
Dr. Wenjuan Mattis
Dr. Wenjuan Mattis was appointed Chief Technology Officer on July 23, 2021. She joined Microvast, Inc. in 2013 and has served as Microvast’s Chief Technology Officer since January 2018, leading the development of battery materials, cells, modules, and packs from R&D to production. Prior to that she served as Vice President of Technology from January 2015 and as Chief Scientist from October 2013 to December 2014.
From March 2010 to October 2013, Dr. Mattis served as Senior Research Engineer at Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, where she led and participated in battery projects developing materials and cells for electrified vehicles and consumer electronics.
In May 2016, Dr. Mattis was elected as the youngest member of the board of directors of the International Meeting on Lithium Batteries Association. She also served as Vice President of the International Automotive Lithium Battery Association since June 2013.
Dr. Mattis holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Fudan University, Shanghai, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Mattis has been working on the development of Li-ion battery technology for over 16 years. She has authored 22 papers and holds 95 patents.
Craig Webster
Craig Webster has served as a director at Microvast since 2012. Previously, Mr. Webster worked with the Ashmore Group, a dedicated Emerging Markets investment manager, holding positions as General Counsel (2007-2010) and Global Head of its Special Situations Funds (2013-2018).
During his time at Ashmore, he was a member of the firm’s investment committees for its special situations funds and Latam Infrastructure Fund. He also served as a non-executive director for BTS Group, a company listed on the stock exchange of Thailand, and Petron Corporation, a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Mr. Webster holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Stirling and the CPE and LPC qualifications from the College of Law (York). He qualified as a lawyer with DLA (now DLA Piper) in 1998, and then worked as a lawyer specializing in cross-border M&A and corporate restructurings with Weil, Gotshal & Manges (1998-2003).
Shane Smith
Shane Smith was appointed Chief Operating Officer on July 23, 2021. He has also served as Microvast’s President of MP Solutions since February 2021. Prior to that, he was Microvast’s Executive Vice President and President of MP Solutions since August 2019.
Before joining Microvast, he was Sr. Vice President of Product Marketing of TransCore, a subsidiary of Roper Technologies, from 2013-2019. From 1996-2013, Mr. Smith worked for TriQuint Semiconductor, today Qorvo, Inc., in various roles of increasing responsibility.
In 2011, he was the Vice President for Global Marketing for Mobile Devices. From 1990-1996, Mr. Smith was a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, is a certified Naval Nuclear Engineer, and holds a Master of Science in Business from Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as a trustee of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation.
Yang Wu founded Microvast in December 2006 and is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and President of the company. Mr. Wu is an experienced entrepreneur, with Microvast being his eighth successful business.
Before starting Microvast, he founded water purification business Omex Environmental Engineering in 2000. The Omex company was acquired by Dow Chemical in 2006, resulting in a 55x return on investment in five years.
Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Petroleum University.
He is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Zach Ward was appointed as President, Microvast Energy on August 1, 2022. He has served as Microvast’s Senior Vice President of Energy Solutions since January 2022. Prior to joining Microvast, he served as General Manager at Chint Power Systems Americas from November 2020 to February 2021. From November 2017 to November 2020, he served as Head of North America Division at Sungrow USA. He also served in different management positions at Axis Technical Sales, Array Technologies, PanelClaw and Advanced Energy Industries. Prior to working in the renewable energy market, he held various management positions in the semiconductor equipment industry at Advanced Energy Industries and Semitool. Mr. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University.
Sascha Rene Kelterborn was appointed Chief Revenue Officer on July 23, 2021. Mr. Kelterborn served as President of our Group from April 2022 to January 2023. He has also been Managing Director of Microvast EMEA since February 2021. From January 2018 until February 2021, he was Microvast’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Western Globe. He served as Managing Director of MPS and of Microvast EMEA since June 2017, after joining Microvast as Deputy Managing Director of Microvast GMBH in January 2017.
Prior to joining us, he served as Managing Director of Kelterborn & Partner, providing consulting services to the railway, building supply, and industrial sector from January 2015 to January 2017.
From December 2007 until November 2014, he served in numerous positions with Vossloh AG, Werdohl, Germany, including Vice President CIS & Mongolia (December 2010 to November 2014) and Vice President Sales (December 2007 to November 2010). At times during his engagement with Vossloh AG, he also served in the following positions: President of Vossloh Fastening Systems America Corp., Chicago, IL; Regional Director Vossloh Middle East Business Rail LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE; member of the International Sales Steering Committee of the Vossloh AG; member of the supervisory board of ZAO Vossloh Fastening Systems, Moscow, Russia; and member of the supervisory board of Vossloh Fastening Systems, Kunshan, China.
Mr. Kelterborn holds a BA from the University of Applied Science in Kiel, Germany.
Dr. Wenjuan Mattis was appointed Chief Technology Officer on July 23, 2021. She joined Microvast, Inc. in 2013 and has served as Microvast’s Chief Technology Officer since January 2018, leading the development of battery materials, cells, modules, and packs from R&D to production. Prior to that she served as Vice President of Technology from January 2015 and as Chief Scientist from October 2013 to December 2014.
From March 2010 to October 2013, Dr. Mattis served as Senior Research Engineer at Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, where she led and participated in battery projects developing materials and cells for electrified vehicles and consumer electronics.
In May 2016, Dr. Mattis was elected as the youngest member of the board of directors of the International Meeting on Lithium Batteries Association. She also served as Vice President of the International Automotive Lithium Battery Association since June 2013.
Dr. Mattis holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Fudan University, Shanghai, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Mattis has been working on the development of Li-ion battery technology for over 16 years. She has authored 22 papers and holds 95 patents.
Craig Webster has served as a director at Microvast since 2012. Previously, Mr. Webster worked with the Ashmore Group, a dedicated Emerging Markets investment manager, holding positions as General Counsel (2007-2010) and Global Head of its Special Situations Funds (2013-2018).
During his time at Ashmore, he was a member of the firm’s investment committees for its special situations funds and Latam Infrastructure Fund. He also served as a non-executive director for BTS Group, a company listed on the stock exchange of Thailand, and Petron Corporation, a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Mr. Webster holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Stirling and the CPE and LPC qualifications from the College of Law (York). He qualified as a lawyer with DLA (now DLA Piper) in 1998, and then worked as a lawyer specializing in cross-border M&A and corporate restructurings with Weil, Gotshal & Manges (1998-2003).
Shane Smith was appointed Chief Operating Officer on July 23, 2021. He has also served as Microvast’s President of MP Solutions since February 2021. Prior to that, he was Microvast’s Executive Vice President and President of MP Solutions since August 2019.
Before joining Microvast, he was Sr. Vice President of Product Marketing of TransCore, a subsidiary of Roper Technologies, from 2013-2019. From 1996-2013, Mr. Smith worked for TriQuint Semiconductor, today Qorvo, Inc., in various roles of increasing responsibility.
In 2011, he was the Vice President for Global Marketing for Mobile Devices. From 1990-1996, Mr. Smith was a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, is a certified Naval Nuclear Engineer, and holds a Master of Science in Business from Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as a trustee of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation.
Yang Wu
Yang Wu founded Microvast in December 2006 and is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and President of the company. Mr. Wu is an experienced entrepreneur, with Microvast being his eighth successful business.
Before starting Microvast, he founded water purification business Omex Environmental Engineering in 2000. The Omex company was acquired by Dow Chemical in 2006, resulting in a 55x return on investment in five years.
Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Petroleum University.
He is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Leon Zheng
Leon Zheng was Chief Financial Officer of Microvast from 2010 to 2022. In this capacity, he oversaw all accounting, taxation, and financial reporting activities. He was also heavily involved in the company’s financial and strategic planning, execution, and capital market activities. He now serves as an advisor to the company, in addition to serving as a director.
Mr. Zheng started his career with Arthur Andersen LLP in 1997 before joining EisnerAmper LLP (Imowitz Konig LLP) in 2001. He then joined Quantum Energy Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm in 2007.
Mr. Zheng holds an MS in accounting from Texas A&M University at College Station and is a CPA & CFA charter holder.
Mr. Zheng is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Yeelong Tan Balladon
Yeelong Tan Balladon was elected to the Board as a Class III Director on July 1, 2022. Ms. Balladon has served as the lead independent trustee of the board of the Ashmore Funds since 2010 and as lead independent trustee since 2014. The Ashmore Funds is a registered US mutual funds complex dedicated to investing in emerging markets. Ms. Balladon also served as a non-executive director of Pacnet Limited from 2008-2015 and Jasper Investments from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Balladon was an associate and subsequently a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, an international law firm, from 1982 to 1988 and 1994 to 2009. She retired from the partnership in 2009. Ms. Balladon holds an LL.B. from the National University of Singapore and is legally professionally qualified in Singapore, England & Wales, and the New York Bar.
Ms. Balladon is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Stephen A. Vogel
Mr. Stephen A. Vogel is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Tuscan Holdings Corp. II, an Independent Director at NetSpend Holdings, Inc., a General Partner at Vogel Partners LLP, a Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Tuscan Holdings Corp., and an Independent Director at Microvast Holdings, Inc. He is on the Board of Directors at NetSpend Holdings, Inc. and Microvast Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Vogel was previously employed as a President & Director by BPGIC International; a Member by Twelve Seas Sponsors I LLC; an Executive Chairman by Forum Merger Corp.; a Chief Executive Officer by Grameen America, Inc.; an Operating Partner by Tri-Artisan Capital Partners; a Partner by EnerTech Capital Partners; a Trustee by Lighthouse International; a Venture Partner by Entre Capital Partners LP; a Trustee by Montefiore Medical Center; a President & Chief Executive Officer by Synergy Gas Corp.; a Trustee by Horace Mann School; a Chief Financial Officer & Director by Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp.; and a Trustee by The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He also served on the board at Microvast, Inc., NetSpend Corp., and the National Propane Gas Association.
He received his undergraduate degree from The Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
Mr. Vogel is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Ying Wei
Mr. Ying Wei has been a director of Microvast since June 2017. He has been a managing partner and director of CDH Shanghai Dinghui Bai Fu Investment Management Co., Ltd. and some of its affiliates since December 2014. CDH Shanghai Dinghui Bai Fu Investment Management Co., Ltd. is a key investment manager entity under CDH Investment. Mr. Ying has been an independent non-executive director of CHTC Fong’s Industries Company Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since September 2011; an independent non-executive director of Fountain Set (Holdings) Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since January 2015; a director of Giant Network Group Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since May 2016; an independent non-executive director of Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since December 2016; a director of Beijing East Environment Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a company listed on The National Equities Exchange and Quotations since July 2017; a director of Yunji Inc., a company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market since February 2018; and a director of Sinocelltech Group Limited, a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since February 2019.
Mr. Ying Wei has also been a director of Guolian Industry Investment Fund Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. since February 2014; a director of Huaian Yuchu Transportation Co., Ltd. since August 2016; a director of Zhejiang Liji Electronics Co., Ltd. since December 2020; a director of Ane (Cayman) Inc. and its affiliates since August 2016; a director of Ningbo Dingcheng Investment Management Co., Ltd. since March 2018; a director of Shenzhen Tajirui Biomedical Co., Ltd. since July 2018; a director of Ningbo Dingyi Asset Management Co., Ltd. since October 2015; and a director of Shanghai Jiexin VC Investment Management Co., Ltd. since January 2017.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Zheijiang Gongshang University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco School of Management.
Mr. Ying Wei is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong.
Stanley Whittingham
Stanley Whittingham is currently a distinguished professor of chemistry and director at Binghamton University. Mr. Whittingham’s research interests and expertise include elucidation of the limiting mechanisms, chemical and structural, of intercalation reactions using a variety of synthetic and characterization approaches, both in-situ and ex-situ. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for his work with lithium-ion batteries.
He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry as well as his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Oxford University.
Mr. Whittingham is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Arthur Wong
Mr. Wong currently serves as an independent director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ), Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), and Maple Leaf Educational Systems Limited (HKSE: 1317). From March 2020 to March 2022, Mr. Wong served as an independent director of Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU). From 2008 to 2018, Mr. Wong served as the Chief Financial Officer for Asia New-Energy, Nobao Renewable Energy, GreenTree Inns Hotel Management Group, and Beijing Radio Cultural Transmission Company Limited, sequentially. From 1982 to 2008, Mr. Wong worked for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Hong Kong, San Jose, and Beijing over various periods of time, with his last position as a partner in the Beijing office.
Mr. Wong received a bachelor’s degree in applied economics from the University of San Francisco and a higher diploma of accountancy from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Wong is both a U.K. citizen and a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Beijing, PRC.
Yang Wu founded Microvast in December 2006 and is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and President of the company. Mr. Wu is an experienced entrepreneur, with Microvast being his eighth successful business.
Before starting Microvast, he founded water purification business Omex Environmental Engineering in 2000. The Omex company was acquired by Dow Chemical in 2006, resulting in a 55x return on investment in five years.
Mr. Wu holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Petroleum University.
He is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Leon Zheng was Chief Financial Officer of Microvast from 2010 to 2022. In this capacity, he oversaw all accounting, taxation, and financial reporting activities. He was also heavily involved in the company’s financial and strategic planning, execution, and capital market activities. He now serves as an advisor to the company, in addition to serving as a director.
Mr. Zheng started his career with Arthur Andersen LLP in 1997 before joining EisnerAmper LLP (Imowitz Konig LLP) in 2001. He then joined Quantum Energy Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm in 2007.
Mr. Zheng holds an MS in accounting from Texas A&M University at College Station and is a CPA & CFA charter holder.
Mr. Zheng is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Yeelong Tan Balladon was elected to the Board as a Class III Director on July 1, 2022. Ms. Balladon has served as the lead independent trustee of the board of the Ashmore Funds since 2010 and as lead independent trustee since 2014. The Ashmore Funds is a registered US mutual funds complex dedicated to investing in emerging markets. Ms. Balladon also served as a non-executive director of Pacnet Limited from 2008-2015 and Jasper Investments from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Balladon was an associate and subsequently a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, an international law firm, from 1982 to 1988 and 1994 to 2009. She retired from the partnership in 2009. Ms. Balladon holds an LL.B. from the National University of Singapore and is legally professionally qualified in Singapore, England & Wales, and the New York Bar.
Ms. Balladon is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Mr. Stephen A. Vogel is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Tuscan Holdings Corp. II, an Independent Director at NetSpend Holdings, Inc., a General Partner at Vogel Partners LLP, a Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Tuscan Holdings Corp., and an Independent Director at Microvast Holdings, Inc. He is on the Board of Directors at NetSpend Holdings, Inc. and Microvast Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Vogel was previously employed as a President & Director by BPGIC International; a Member by Twelve Seas Sponsors I LLC; an Executive Chairman by Forum Merger Corp.; a Chief Executive Officer by Grameen America, Inc.; an Operating Partner by Tri-Artisan Capital Partners; a Partner by EnerTech Capital Partners; a Trustee by Lighthouse International; a Venture Partner by Entre Capital Partners LP; a Trustee by Montefiore Medical Center; a President & Chief Executive Officer by Synergy Gas Corp.; a Trustee by Horace Mann School; a Chief Financial Officer & Director by Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp.; and a Trustee by The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He also served on the board at Microvast, Inc., NetSpend Corp., and the National Propane Gas Association.
He received his undergraduate degree from The Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
Mr. Vogel is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Mr. Ying Wei has been a director of Microvast since June 2017. He has been a managing partner and director of CDH Shanghai Dinghui Bai Fu Investment Management Co., Ltd. and some of its affiliates since December 2014. CDH Shanghai Dinghui Bai Fu Investment Management Co., Ltd. is a key investment manager entity under CDH Investment. Mr. Ying has been an independent non-executive director of CHTC Fong’s Industries Company Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since September 2011; an independent non-executive director of Fountain Set (Holdings) Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since January 2015; a director of Giant Network Group Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since May 2016; an independent non-executive director of Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since December 2016; a director of Beijing East Environment Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a company listed on The National Equities Exchange and Quotations since July 2017; a director of Yunji Inc., a company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market since February 2018; and a director of Sinocelltech Group Limited, a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since February 2019.
Mr. Ying Wei has also been a director of Guolian Industry Investment Fund Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. since February 2014; a director of Huaian Yuchu Transportation Co., Ltd. since August 2016; a director of Zhejiang Liji Electronics Co., Ltd. since December 2020; a director of Ane (Cayman) Inc. and its affiliates since August 2016; a director of Ningbo Dingcheng Investment Management Co., Ltd. since March 2018; a director of Shenzhen Tajirui Biomedical Co., Ltd. since July 2018; a director of Ningbo Dingyi Asset Management Co., Ltd. since October 2015; and a director of Shanghai Jiexin VC Investment Management Co., Ltd. since January 2017.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Zheijiang Gongshang University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco School of Management.
Mr. Ying Wei is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong.
Stanley Whittingham is currently a distinguished professor of chemistry and director at Binghamton University. Mr. Whittingham’s research interests and expertise include elucidation of the limiting mechanisms, chemical and structural, of intercalation reactions using a variety of synthetic and characterization approaches, both in-situ and ex-situ. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for his work with lithium-ion batteries.
He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry as well as his Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Oxford University.
Mr. Whittingham is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.
Mr. Wong currently serves as an independent director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ), Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), and Maple Leaf Educational Systems Limited (HKSE: 1317). From March 2020 to March 2022, Mr. Wong served as an independent director of Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU). From 2008 to 2018, Mr. Wong served as the Chief Financial Officer for Asia New-Energy, Nobao Renewable Energy, GreenTree Inns Hotel Management Group, and Beijing Radio Cultural Transmission Company Limited, sequentially. From 1982 to 2008, Mr. Wong worked for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Hong Kong, San Jose, and Beijing over various periods of time, with his last position as a partner in the Beijing office.
Mr. Wong received a bachelor’s degree in applied economics from the University of San Francisco and a higher diploma of accountancy from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Wong is both a U.K. citizen and a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Beijing, PRC.
