Mr Tighe has more than 45 years of experience in the automotive industry, most recently almost 10 years as chief financial officer of Blue Bird Corporation, a leading manufacturer of American school buses.

He is Melbourne-born and has become a naturalised American citizen. SEA is also from Melbourne and is now based in Los Angeles.

During a 35 year career with the Ford Motor Company, Mr Tighe gained extensive experience in the key processes of manufacturing companies, including the product development phase, manufacturing processes and sales channels.

Operating at a senior level in the finance function at Ford, Mr Tighe lived and worked in Australia, the US, Germany, Japan, Venezuela, Mexico, Thailand and China, with extensive dealings in many European countries, as well as most of Asia, Brazil and India.

SEA Electric founder and CEO Tony Fairweather said he and his team “could not be more excited to have Phil joining the team at SEA Electric at this time; his experience in all facets of the automotive industry is invaluable in taking our company to the next level”.

“As we grow our worldwide footprint and with public aspirations for this year, having the experience Phil has earned throughout his extensive career will be vital in achieving our strategic plan.

“We consider it a vote of confidence that Phil has chosen to join the SEA Electric team, and we warmly welcome him aboard.”

Mr Tighe said the future growth prospects of SEA Electric are impressive.

“Right now is the perfect time to be aligning with SEA Electric,” he said.

“The groundwork that has already been laid in building the company to this point is notable, but overall, its potential is massive.

“Worldwide, there is so much scope for pioneers in the zero-emissions transportation sector to take advantage of marketplace demand.

“SEA Electric’s technology is proven, and the rapid acceptance of the products in multiple countries points towards what is possible.”

Global automotive technology company SEA Electric was founded in Australia in 2012, creating its proprietary electric power system technology (known as SEA-Drive) for the world’s urban delivery and distribution fleets, as well as front-powered school bus applications.

It now has a global presence, deploying products in six countries including US, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Africa and has more than one million miles of independently OEM-tested and in-service international operation.

The company’s global sales, aftersales and engineering are represented in all subsidiaries, whilst North America, home to the company’s headquarters, has the largest capacity for SEA Electric production at 60,000 units per year.

By Neil Dowling