2022 Automotive News Rising Stars

Robert Bosch
North America

Vice President of Electrification

Erich
Banhegyi

Big Break: Being project leader of the team that designed Bosch’s first hybrid drive — an e-motor and clutch — which debuted in 2010.

Age: 43

Valeo

Regional Operations Quality Director

Fernanda
Barrales

Big Break: Moved from sales into a more technically challenging management career track in project management and manufacturing.

Age: 41

Honda Development
and Manufacturing
of America

Chief Engineer, Senior Manager

Annie
Boh

Big Break: Gaining buy-in from upper management to lead the business development of Honda’s wind tunnel facility in the U.S.

Age: 42

Stellantis

Vice President of Jeep Product Management

Tavon
Brooks

Big Break: Becoming Jeep’s director of product management in 2021.

Age: 39

Ricardo Inc.

Senior Vice President Electrification Strategy and Technology

Yansong
Chen

Big Break: Both of Chen’s parents were executives at China’s FAW Group, one of the country’s largest automakers. Their careers inspired her to become an engineer.

Age: 45

Forvia

Vice President of Interiors Unit in North America

Marinela
Cirstea

Big Break: As a new program manager, oversaw development of the Renault Clio interior.

Age: 42

Hyundai Motor America

Director, Marketing Communications

Kate
Fabian

Big Break: Coming to the U.S. to launch Genesis after being selected in a green card lottery, which enabled a timely transition.Â

Age: 45

Nissan Motor Co.

Director, Electric Vehicles Marketing and Sales Strategy

Aditya
Jairaj

Big Break: Being tapped for a stint at Nissanâ€™s global headquarters, helping him develop relationships with key executives and better understand how the organization operates globally.

Age: 40

Gatik

Co-Founder and Chief Engineer

Apeksha
Kumavat

Big Break: Starting a self-driving truck company at a time competitors focused on robotaxis.

Age: 31

Toyota
Financial Services

Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Nate
Litton

Big Break: Showing Toyota Financial Services how data, probabilities and analytics could dramatically improve its performance.

Age: 40

General Motors

Assistant Chief Engineer of Super Cruise

Jeff
Miller

Big Break: Accelerating the rollout of the Super Cruise hands-free driving-assist technology and enhancing its features.

Age: 38

General Motors

Chief Engineer of Electric Drive Systems

Hanaan
Miller

Big Break: Led a team that designed and built an in-house traction inverter.

Age: 45

Mazda North
American Operations

Manager of Vehicle Safety, Compliance, Planning & Development

Jennifer
Morrison

Big Break: Leaving a nearly 20-year career with the federal government for a role with Mazda, which allowed her to effect greater changes in vehicle safety.

Age: 45

Axalta Coating Systems

Vice President for Mobility Americas

Dan
Naugle

Big Break: Joining Axalta in 2013, months after the former DuPont Performance Coatings business became an independent company.

Age: 45

Panasonic Automotive

CFO

Kevin
Ostertag

Big Break: As a young plant controller for a factory project in 2008, Ostertag was part of a team that earned a Johnson Controls Chairman’s Award for launching the high-profile assignment.

Age: 41

Lear Corp.

Platform Director for E-Systems

Briana
Porter

Big Break: Being chosen as a program manager for wire harnesses, one of the company’s top moneymaking products.

Age: 44

Adient North America

Director of Business Unit Purchasing

Julie
Rudy

Big Break: Being promoted to a director level position at Faurecia, allowing her to break into a male-dominated space and work on big-picture managerial goals.

Age: 42