Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast on Saturday named its founder and biggest financial backer, Pham Nhat Vuong, as chief executive as it plans an ambitious overseas expansion and ramps up sales via dealerships.
Vuong, 55, replaces Le Thi Thu Thuy, who had held the post since late 2021, VinFast said in a statement. Thuy, a finance expert, will serve as chairwoman and lead engagement with external stakeholders.
Vuong, also the founder and chairman of Vingroup – Vietnam’s biggest conglomerate and VinFast’s parent company – will directly oversee the EV maker’s operations, including global production, sales and marketing, the company said.
He will be VinFast’s fourth chief executive. Previous CEOs include General Motors veteran James Deluca and Michael Lohscheller, who came from Opel and Volkswagen.
In the latest executive changes for the ambitious Vietnamese automaker, VinFast appointed Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, who oversees financial matters at Vingroup’s EV battery arm, as chief financial officer, replacing David Mansfield, who was in place from 2022.
