Multiple companies and brands have recently announced personnel changes in the commercial fleet world including Motiv Electric Trucks, Rand McNally, and more.
Photo: Motiv Electric Trucks / JM Family Enterprises / Motus / Rand Mcnally / Automotive Fleet
Multiple companies and brands have recently announced personnel changes in the commercial fleet world. Automotive Fleet has a roundup of these new hires and promotions, including:
- Motiv Electric Trucks Appoints Desi Ujkashevic to Board of Directors
- JM Family Enterprises Names President Dan Chait as Next CEO
- Motus Welcomes Amanda Bohne as Chief Marketing Officer
- Rand McNally Names SafetyDirect founder Hans Molin Chief Technology Officer
Desi Ujkashevic is currently a senior director at Apple and previously spent 31 years at Ford Motor Company in advanced technology development and global automotive operations.
Photo: Motiv Electric Trucks / Automotive Fleet
Motiv Electric Trucks Appoints Desi Ujkashevic to Board of Directors
Motiv Electric Trucks announced the appointment of Desi Ujkashevic to the company’s Board of Directors.
Ujkashevic is currently a senior director at Apple and previously spent 31 years at Ford Motor Company in advanced technology development and global automotive operations.
“[Ujkashevic] has spent her career applying her deep engineering background to scale innovative automotive technologies profitably, safely, and efficiently,” Matt O’Leary, executive chairman of the board of Motiv Electric Trucks, said.
“Her experience and expertise will be critical to Motiv as we evolve into a full OEM of the most technologically advanced, reliable, and sustainable electric trucks and buses for the largest fleets in North America,” O’Leary continued.
Ujkashevic joined Apple as a senior director in 2022, where she works at the forefront of enabling pioneering technologies and products. Previously, Ujkashevic spent 31 years at Ford Motor Company, where she held multiple executive engineering, design, and innovation leadership roles.
Advancing Sustainability in Transportation
A notable leader in the industry, Ujkashevic has served on the Board of Directors for ITS America (as part of the executive committee) and the Transportation Improvement Association, influencing transportation technology advancements.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, an M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and an MBA in Marketing and Finance, all from the University of Michigan. Automotive News has twice named her one of the “Top 100 Leading Women in the Auto Industry.”
“It’s clear to me that medium-duty trucks and buses represent the quickest path to electrification in the automotive industry,” said Ujkashevic.
But truly scaling an automotive business requires not just a deep understanding of manufacturing, engineering, and design, but also an ability to fill gaps in what customers want and the market can provide. I’ve spent my career doing this work and am thrilled to apply it to help Motiv advance sustainability across this critical industry,” Ujkashevic continued.
Pioneering Electric Fleets
Motiv has developed, manufactured, and deployed electric step vans, box trucks, and shuttles to businesses for the last 15 years, putting more than 350 vehicles on the road that have collectively driven more than 4 million miles and delivered more than 250 million pounds of goods.
In 2023, the company’s electric trucks collectively achieved a 98% uptime, according to company diagnostic data.
“I first got to know Desi at Ford when we were both working on connectivity and autonomy,” Scott Griffith, CEO of Motiv Electric Trucks, said. “Her deep understanding of the global automotive systems combined with her tech experience will be a huge asset to Motiv as we continue to modernize and decarbonize the traditional trucking industry.”
Today, 10 of North America’s largest 20 medium-duty truck fleets have deployed Motiv vehicles, including Purolator, Vestis (formerly Aramark Uniform Services), Cintas, Bimbo Bakeries, and other leading brands.
Motiv now accounts for 45% of electric step vans in California and 19% of step van deployments in the U.S. Since Motiv’s founding, 64% of vehicles have been delivered to repeat customers.
Dan Chait is succeeding Brent Burns as CEO, while Burns sets his sights on retirement and remaining on the company’s board of directors to counsel Chait and the senior leadership team.
Photo: JM Family Enterprises / Automotive Fleet
JM Family Enterprises Names President Dan Chait as Next CEO
JM Family Enterprises announced that Dan Chait, current president and chief operating officer (COO), has been named president and CEO, effective January 1, 2025.
Chait is succeeding Brent Burns as CEO, while Burns sets his sights on retirement and remaining on the company’s board of directors to counsel Chait and the senior leadership team.
Chait is poised to carry forward the dynamic company culture and core values built by JM Family’s founder, Jim Moran, and the impactful leadership of former CEOs Colin Brown and Brent Burns.
“[Chait’s] succession to president and CEO has been a part of our long-term strategic talent plans for many years,” Burns said. “During his tenure at JM Family, he has successfully led high-performing teams across multiple business units, investing his time and talents to grow and inspire the next generation of leaders.”
“Simply put, he is the right individual for the job of leading our great company forward. Dan is a person of integrity, intellect, and trustworthiness who exemplifies our culture, and he’s a compassionate and inclusive leader who puts the best interest of our associates and business partners first,” Burns continued.
During his tenure as CEO and a 24-year career at JM Family, Burns successfully navigated the company through the COVID pandemic, achieved record growth and profitability, diversified into new industries leveraging its core competencies, and matured and grew its investment portfolios.
The company has also focused on preparing for the future by upskilling its teams, modernizing technologies, and investing in facilities to provide a better workplace and capacity for decades.
Guiding Growth and Strategy
Chait, named COO in May 2023 and president in March 2024, previously held the role of president of subsidiary companies JM&A Group and Southeast Toyota Finance. He has collaborated closely with JM Family’s leadership to navigate the dynamic automotive industry and align strategic priorities.
Chait joined Southeast Toyota Finance in 2002 as vice president of Asset Management. He rose through the ranks, becoming group vice president in 2007, senior vice president in 2011, and president in 2012. Before joining JM Family, Chait held senior positions at US Airways, AutoNation, and UniCapital Corporation.
Chait earned his Master of Business Administration and bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Rochester. In 2019, he was named chairman of the American Financial Services Association board of directors, of which he has been a member since 2015.
In her role as chief marketing officer, Amanda Bohne will be responsible for further defining and driving marketing strategy to accelerate growth across Motus’ portfolio of solutions.
Photo: Motus / Automotive Fleet
Motus Welcomes Amanda Bohne as Chief Marketing Officer
Motus announced the appointment of Amanda Bohne as its new chief marketing officer (CMO).
In her role, Bohne will be responsible for further defining and driving marketing strategy to accelerate growth across Motus’ portfolio of solutions.
Bohne brings a wealth of knowledge to the role with nearly 15 years of technology and SaaS marketing experience, serving most recently as CMO at Harver, an HR tech company. Leveraging product marketing and demand generation expertise, Bohne is known for successfully building and leading high-velocity marketing teams that deliver strong returns on investment.
Her track record of success also includes leadership roles at AppNeta and other high-growth technology companies, where she played a key role in increasing collaboration within go-to-market teams and driving improved performance.
“Amanda’s extensive experience in technology marketing, coupled with her passion for building dynamic teams, makes her the ideal leader to expedite our growth trajectory and enhance our marketing efforts,” Phong Nguyen, CEO of Motus, said.
“Her vision and expertise will play a vital role in reinforcing Motus’ leadership in the industry as we innovate and develop advanced solutions tailored for the needs of employees who drive for work,” Nguyen continued.
Bohne has earned numerous accolades for her contributions to the industry, including recognition as one of the Top 50 Marketers of the Year in 2022 by OnCon and as a Top Woman Leader in SaaS in 2019 and 2020 by The Software Report.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity to be able to work on a market-leading brand with such a commitment to innovation and an incredible customer base,” said Bohne.
“I’m so excited to partner with this talented and customer-centric team to further accelerate Motus’ evolution in this next chapter,” Bohne concluded.
Hans Molin, who joined Rand McNally through its acquisition of SafetyDirect, has been pivotal in leading the company’s technology and engineering initiatives.
Photo: Rand McNally / Automotive Fleet
Rand McNally Names SafetyDirect founder Hans Molin Chief Technology Officer
Rand McNally has named Hans Molin its Global Head of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Molin, who joined Rand McNally through its acquisition of SafetyDirect, has been pivotal in leading the company’s technology and engineering initiatives, setting the course for its next phase of customer-centric innovation.
“Hans is a serial innovator with over 30 patents to his credit,” CEO Doug Phillips said. “His extensive experience in telematics and connectivity solutions with SafetyDirect has made him an invaluable asset to Rand McNally.”
“Combined with his long record of leading global, cutting-edge product teams, that also made him the obvious choice to direct the development of our customer-focused solutions,” Phillips continued.
New CTO Drives Safety and Innovation
As CTO, Molin will oversee product planning, development, and lifecycle across Rand McNally’s entire portfolio. His journey began in Sweden at Volvo Cars, where he led the development of pioneering safety advancements, including the world’s first roll stability control system for SUVs.
After moving to the U.S., he continued his work on connectivity and safety technologies, ultimately becoming one of the founders of SafetyDirect in 2008.
“Safety has always been at the heart of my work,” said Molin. “It’s not just about technology — it’s also about saving lives on the roads. I’m excited to expand on Rand McNally’s principles of safety, simplicity, and trust to deliver innovative solutions for our customers. Our agile team and advanced technology stack position us perfectly for significant strides forward.”
Before joining Rand McNally, Molin led the SafetyDirect business at Bendix, driving connectivity, data collection, and SaaS solutions. His new responsibilities now encompass the full scope of Rand McNally’s technology and engineering initiatives, reinforcing his focus on end-to-end innovation and strategic development.
“I’ve known Hans for a while now, and I continue to be impressed by the skillset he brings to every situation,” CRO Jeff Westover said. “His focus on customer needs and impactful innovation, while staying aligned with our revenue goals, makes him the ideal partner for our go-to-market strategy.”
Molin enjoys mountain biking, trail running, and music outside his professional work. He resides in Mission Viejo, California, with his wife, Ulrika, who runs her own photography business, and their two daughters.
