Andy Palmer
Andrew Charles Palmer CMG FIMechE (born 30 June 1963) is an English automotive executive and engineer. He has been described as the 'Godfather of EVs' [1] due to his work launching the Nissan Leaf in 2010 whilst COO at the Japanese company.[2] Palmer is also known for launching Aston Martin's first SUV, the DBX, and first mid-engined sports car, Valkyrie, during his tenure as CEO from 2014 to 2020.[3] Palmer was previously CEO and Executive Vice-chairman of electric bus and van company, Switch.[4] He resigned from this role in 2022.[5] Palmer was appointed Interim CEO of PodPoint in July 2023.[6]
This article is about the auto company executive. For the musician, see N. A. Palmer. For other people, see Andrew Palmer.
Andy Palmer
30 June 1963
Automotive executive and engineer
CEO at Palmer Automotive Ltd, CEO at Pod Point
Alice (divorced)
Hitomi (divorced)
4
In addition, Palmer is founder and CEO of Palmer Automotive Ltd (most notably leading a bid on behalf of Punch, to acquire Nissan Motor Iberica in Barcelona[7]), and Chairman of InoBat, a Slovakian developer of electric vehicle 'intelligent' batteries, Chairman of Hilo Ltd,[8] the EV Scooter manufacturer, Chairman of IONETIC, the battery pack technology company and Chairman of Brill Power, the battery technology provider.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
In 2017, Palmer was appointed chairman of the productivity and skills commission of the new West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).[15] He was previously the chief planning officer, executive vice-president and member of the executive committee of Nissan Motor Company.[16][17] Reporting directly to Nissan's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, Palmer shared the chief operating officer role with two Nissan executives.[18][19][20] Palmer was also chairman of Infiniti, and president of Nissan Motor Light Truck Co, a member of the board of directors of Nissan (China) Investment Company (NCIC), and of Nissan's joint ventures with India's Ashok Leyland.
Early life[edit]
Palmer was born in June 1963 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.[16][17] Palmer attended Kineton High School.[21]
Palmer entered a technical apprenticeship with UK Automotive Products Limited in 1979 at the age of 16. He received a master's degree (MSc) in Product Engineering from the University of Warwick, in July 1990, and a doctorate (PhD) in Engineering Management, from Cranfield University, in April 2004. Palmer is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Palmer holds a Diploma in Industrial Management from Coventry University. Palmer is a member and former board member of SAE International and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute[22][18]
He was given honorary doctorates by Coventry and Cranfield Universities, and is a professor at Coventry University, industrial professor at Warwick University and a guest professor at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.[23]
Palmer Foundation[edit]
In September 2018, Palmer announced a charitable foundation to fund apprenticeships targeting young people from disadvantaged background.[74][75] According to an Aston Martin statement,[74] "the charitable foundation will operate independently of the apprenticeship scheme at Aston Martin Lagonda, which earlier this month welcomed its biggest ever intake of 50 apprentices and 26 graduates."