EcoMotors Names Donald L. Runkle CEO
Industry Leader Brings Decades of Experience to Pursuit of Clean and Efficient Propulsion Systems
TROY, Mich., Sept. 14 -- EcoMotors International announced today it has named seasoned industry executive Donald L. Runkle as its CEO. Runkle brings automotive OEM, supplier, and private-equity experience to his new position at EcoMotors - an innovative, Michigan-based company developing clean, efficient and lightweight propulsion systems.
This "power creation" start-up was founded in 2008 by world-renowned engine innovator, Prof. Peter Hofbauer, father of the contemporary high-speed diesel engine during his tenure as Volkswagen's head of powertrain development. EcoMotors is backed by Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, the prominent investor in disruptive clean technology.
"Don brings us broad experience in running businesses and business functions in many key areas," said Khosla. "As we prepare to take disruptive 'maintech' power technology from the laboratory to the world's markets - which are hungry for power that is ecological, efficient, compact, lightweight and, most important, economical - Don's leadership and business acumen will be invaluable to our efforts."
"The opportunity to build up such an important company with a powertrain pioneer like Peter Hofbauer, and backed by a visionary like Vinod Khosla, was just too good to pass up," said Runkle. "To bring propulsion solutions to market that will economically transport people and goods, while making a serious and practical impact on global warming, is an exciting and challenging opportunity that I look forward to helping advance."
Until mid-2005, Runkle was Vice Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Delphi Corporation, where he was the senior executive responsible for deploying lean principles and integrating engineering, manufacturing and purchasing, and for leading major international customer accounts. As Delphi's Executive Vice President from 2000 to 2003, Runkle was responsible for the $14 billion Dynamics and Propulsion Systems Sector, where he acquired significant new business and led more than $4 billion of worldwide M&A venture transactions.
Prior to his days at Delphi, Runkle enjoyed a 31-year career at General Motors, which included posts as Vice President of Advanced Engineering, Vice President of Engineering Operations for North America, Chief Engineer of Chevrolet, and Vice President and General Manager of Energy and Engine Management Division - an operation that yielded $7 billion in annual revenue. His many accomplishments at GM include production programs that won prestigious "Top 10 Engine" and "Car of the Year" awards, and also countless advanced concepts demonstrating high efficiency and high performance such as GM's EV1 electric car, the 100 mpg Ultralite, and the CERV III concept Corvette.
Runkle serves as non-executive Chairman of EaglePicher Corporation and of Autocam Corporation, both privately held, and as an operating executive for Tennenbaum Capital Partners. He also serves as a director on the boards of various other organizations, including MIT's Sloan School of Management, and James P. Womack's Lean Enterprise Institute.
"I've always had a passion for power creation and efficiency and a strong belief in economic gravity. . .that is to say, valuable solutions win!" said Runkle. "I've spent my entire professional life pushing demonstrations of extremes in power and efficiency while striving to make them affordable.
"The 'Holy Grail' going forward is 'power density' - getting the most power with the highest efficiency from the lightest and smallest package, and doing it economically. Once this combination of features is achieved, everything else will be enabled - high fuel economy, packaging efficiency and freedom for exciting styling and design.
"If we are going to seriously reduce the impact of transporting billions of people and trillions of pounds of goods and services, it will be done by dramatically more efficient use of liquid fuels with technology that people and businesses can afford. The technology EcoMotors has in place delivers a unique set of synergistic characteristics, including high power, high efficiency, low mass, small size with elegant simplicity and resulting affordability. . .all with a remarkably small carbon footprint."
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