On-board for electric drive

Drive Electric has appointed two new board members – Dennis Kelly, of FleetPartners, and Kirsten Corson from Zilch and Carbn Group Holdings.

“We’re delighted to welcome them,” says chairman Mark Gilbert. “Drive Electric is growing quickly as e-mobility becomes an ever-important part of the future of transport. 

“We are at a tipping point in the history of e-mobility. We are seeing a number of forces lining up, including government climate policy, technology, lowering EV prices and the relatively high cost of petrol.”

Gilbert adds that Corson and Kelly have the skills and experience Drive Electric needs “to seize this change and redouble our commitment to promoting electric”.

Corson, pictured above, is co-founder and director at Zilch, an all-electric mobility-as-a-service business, along with Carbn Asset Management, which is a green fleet-consulting company, and Sustainable Fleet Finance, which delivers flexible finance for EVs and chargers.

She says: “I’m looking forward to making a positive contribution to the sector as we are in such an exciting growth phase across all forms of e-mobility.”

Kelly, pictured below, is the director of pan-Tasman fleet at FleetPartners and has more 40 years’ experience in leasing, commercial asset financing and banking.

As one of New Zealand’s leading vehicle leasing and fleet management companies, it is helping businesses on their journeys to becoming carbon zero. This includes a five-step framework they can use to help transition to more sustainable fleets.  

“At FleetPartners, we are passionate about helping businesses significantly reduce their carbon footprints, which will contribute to New Zealand meeting its overall CO2 emissions reduction targets,” says Kelly.

“I’m personally delighted to be given the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution with the team at Drive Electric.”

In addition to Gilbert as chairman, and the appointments of Kelly and Corson, Drive Electric’s board includes Annette Azuma, director at Business Advisory Services, Baker Tilly, of Staples Rodway, Matthew Bailey, chief investment officer at Still, and Tim Calder, Meridian Energy’s emerging markets and innovation lead.

Others are Ewan Morris, country managing director at ABB New Zealand, Eric Pellicer, Powerco’s general manager of business development, Dean Sheed, general manager of Audi NZ, Duncan Stewart, director at Greenhouse Capital, and Steve West, chief executive officer of ChargeNet.