Leadership - Microvast Holdings, Inc.

Management Team

Yang Wu is a driving force behind transformative enterprises dedicated to fostering sustainable solutions, overcoming boundaries, addressing climate change challenges, and creating a better tomorrow. Mr. Wu is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Microvast, a U.S.-based organization focused on revolutionizing the lithium-ion battery sector.

He founded Microvast in 2006, leading the charge in cutting-edge battery technologies that reshape industries and redefine possibilities. His philosophy centers on the idea that small “micro” changes can lead to “vast” and lasting positive transformations for the environment, forming the foundation of Microvast’s mission.

Prior to Microvast, Mr. Wu spearheaded Omex Environmental Engineering, a venture aimed at improving living standards through innovative water purification applications. Under his leadership, the company’s acquisition by Dow Chemical in 2006 resulted in a remarkable 55-fold return on investment in just five years. Before Omex Environmental Engineering, he was founder and CEO of Omex Engineering and Construction, where he was responsible for building two large chemical plants, a methanol plant, and a butene-diol plant. His entrepreneurial aptitude also led to the establishment of Worldwide Omex, Inc., an agent for a prominent oilfield service conglomerate.

Mr. Wu earned his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Southwest Petroleum University, which laid the foundation for his contributions to multiple industries. His capabilities and dedication have resulted in breakthroughs across various sectors, positively impacting lives and promoting sustainable practices.

Yang Wu and his wife arrived in the United States in 1994, epitomizing the embodiment of the American dream. During the last several decades, he not only raised his family on American soil but also created numerous successful companies. His achievements as an innovator and business leader serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Mr. Wu is a trailblazer and a catalyst for transformative change. His innovative spirit and dedication to sustainable progress have a profound impact on global advancement. As he continues to shape the future with his vision and commitment, Mr. Wu’s influence will leave an indelible imprint on technology innovation for a better tomorrow.

Zach Ward was appointed President of Microvast Holdings, Inc., in August 2023. Working alongside our Founder and CEO, Yang Wu, Zach Ward provides leadership and strategic direction. Mr. Ward’s responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, collaborating with our executive team and stakeholders, and optimizing manufacturing processes. Prior to his role as President of Microvast Holdings, Inc., Mr. Ward held the position of President of the Energy Division and Senior Vice President.

Before joining Microvast, Mr. Ward was General Manager at Chint Power Systems Americas from November 2020 to February 2021. Prior to that, he served as the Head of North America Division at Sungrow USA from November 2017 to November 2020. Mr. Ward also held management roles at Axis Technical Sales, Array Technologies, PanelClaw, and Advanced Energy Industries. His previous experience includes management positions in the semiconductor equipment industry at Advanced Energy Industries and Semitool.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from DeVry University.

Sascha Kelterborn assumed the role of Chief Revenue Officer on February, 2021, leading our organization’s revenue generation efforts. As the Chief of Revenue, he plays a role in business development–driving sustainable growth and maximizing profitability.

Mr. Kelterborn served as President of Microvast Holdings, Inc. from April 2022 to January 2023. He has been the Managing Director of Microvast EMEA since June 2017. He also led Microvast’s sales & marketing efforts as Senior Vice President for the Western Globe region from 2018-2021. His journey with Microvast started in June 2017 as the Managing Director of MPS UK and Microvast EMEA, following his initial role as Deputy Managing Director of Microvast GmbH since January 2017.

Prior to joining us, Mr. Kelterborn served as Managing Director of Kelterborn & Partner, where he provided consulting services to the railway, building supply, and industrial sectors from January 2015 to January 2017.

During his tenure from December 2007 to November 2014 at Vossloh AG, Werdohl, Germany, Mr. Kelterborn held various positions of importance. Notably, he served as Vice President CIS & Mongolia from December 2010 to November 2014, and Vice President Sales from December 2007 to November 2010. His commitment extended to roles such as President of Vossloh Fastening Systems America Corp., Chicago, IL; Regional Director of 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 has 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).

Board of Directors

Yanzhuan Zheng was elected to the Board as a Class III Director on July 23, 2021. Mr. Zheng served as Microvast’s Chief Financial Officer and as a director since 2010, and on April 14, 2022, Mr. Zheng transitioned from his role as Chief Financial Officer of the Company to advisor. Prior to joining Microvast, Mr. Zheng joined Quantum Energy Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm, in 2007. Mr. Zheng began his career with Arthur Anderson LLP in 1997. Mr. Zheng holds a Master of Science degree in accounting from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Public Accountant and a CFA Charter holder.

Mr. Zheng is qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive experience and knowledge of accounting and financial matters.

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 U.S. 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 qualified to serve on our Board due to her extensive legal and financial experience in the finance, banking and M&A sectors, particularly in emerging markets.

Ms. Balladon is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.

Wei Ying was elected to the Board as a Class I Director on July 23, 2021. Mr. Ying has been a director of Microvast, Inc. since June 2017. Since December 2014, Mr. Ying has been a managing partner and director of CDH Shanghai Dinghui Bai Fu Investment Management Co., Ltd., a key investment manager entity under CDH Investment, and some of its affiliates. Mr. Ying has served as a director of CHTC Fong’s Industries Company Limited (HKG: 0641) since September 2011, a director of Fountain Set (Holdings) Limited (HKG: 0420) since January 2015, a director of Giant Network Group Co., Ltd. (002558.SZ) since May 2016, a director of Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS: ZSHGY) since December 2016, a director of Beijing East Environment Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (NEEQ: 831083) since July 2017, a director of Yunji Inc. (NASDAQ: YJ) since February 2018, and a director of Sinocelltech Group Limited (688520:Shanghai) since February 2019. Mr. Ying has also served as 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. Mr. Ying received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Zheijiang Gohgshang University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco School of Management.

Mr. Ying is qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive leadership experience and industry knowledge experience.

Mr. Ying is a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Hong Kong.

Stephen A. Vogel has over 40 years of operating and private equity experience. He has served as General Partner of Vogel Partners, LLP, a private investment firm, since 1996. Since November 2018, he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tuscan Holdings Corp., blank check company that consummate an initial business combination with Microvast Holdings Corp., an EV battery company. Since May 2018, he has also served as President of Twelve Seas Investment Company, a blank check company that merged with Brooge Energy, an UAE based oil storage and services business. From December 2016 until February 2018, Mr. Vogel was Executive Chairman of Forum Merger Corporation, a blank check company that completed its initial public offering in April 2017. Forum completed its initial business combination in February 2018 with ConvergeOne Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVON).

Mr. Vogel began his career in 1971 as President, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Synergy Gas Corp., a retail propane distribution company. After selling Synergy Gas Corp. to Northwestern Corp. in 1995, Mr. Vogel co-founded EntreCapital Partners, a private equity firm that focused on companies facing operational or management challenges and served until 1999. Additionally, he was a venture partner at EnerTech Capital Partners, an energy focused venture capital firm, from 1999 to 2002, and an operating partner at Tri-Artisan Capital Partners, LLC, an investment bank, from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Vogel also served as Chief Executive Officer of Grameen America, a not-for-profit organization that provides microloans to low-income borrowers in the United States, from 2008 to 2013. He was on the board of Netspend (NASDAQ: NTSP), a leader for prepaid stored value platforms, from 2011 to 2013.

Mr. Vogel was a member of the Board of Trustees at Montefiore Medical Center and Children’s Hospital for over 20 years and served on the Board of Trustees at Lighthouse International, a non-profit organization. Mr. Vogel is a past Trustee of the Horace Mann School and previously served on the Board of Directors of the National Propane Gas Association. Mr. Vogel received a BS degree from Syracuse University School of Management.

Mr. Vogel is qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive leadership experience and financial expertise.

Mr. Vogel is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.

Stanley Whittingham was elected to the Board as a Class II Director on July 23, 2021. He has been a distinguished professor of chemistry and director at Binghamton University since 1988. He has also served as a director of Magnis Energy Technologies (OTCMKTS: MNSEF)(ASE: MNS) since November 2016. Mr. Whittingham’s research interest and expertise includes 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, his Master of Arts and his Bachelor of Arts degrees from Oxford University.

Mr. Whittingham is qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive knowledge on lithium-ion batteries.

Mr. Whittingham is a U.S. citizen and resides in the U.S.

Arthur Wong was elected to the Board as a Class II Director on July 23, 2021. 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 qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive experience and knowledge of accounting and financial matters as well as audit functions.

He is both a U.K. citizen and a Hong Kong citizen and resides in Beijing, PRC.