Board of Directors

Prof. Dr.hc Winfried Vahland is the Chair of the Polestar board. He has 40 years of broad and international experience in the automotive industry, including as CEO of Škoda, as well as various other executive positions within the Volkswagen Group.

Winfried Vahland served on the Volvo Cars in Board from 2019 to 2024, and currently serves as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of EuroCar AG., as well as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Proton Holdings Berhad and Vibracoustic SE. 

Pr. Dr.hc. Vahland holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration from Technical University THD Darmstadt, Germany, and a Master of Business Administration from GMI Engineering & Management Institute, Michigan, United States. He was decerned honorary doctor in Mechanical Engineering by the Dalian University of Technology in China, and in Economics by the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic.

Michael was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Polestar in October 2024 and has two decades of senior level experience in the automotive industry.

Previously, Michael served as the CEO of Nikola Motor Company, VinFast and Opel, and before that he was CFO of Opel, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück and a Master’s degree in European Marketing from Brunel University of London. 

Christine Gorjanc has extensive operational experience from working with multi-national technology and public healthcare companies. She is currently Lead Director for Juniper Networks.

Christine brings over 35 years of experience in finance and accounting and is a highly experienced former CFO at Netgear and Arlo Technologies. She has served as a board member in both private and listed companies, including as chairman of the audit committee and member of the remuneration committee.

Her expertise includes strategic initiatives, working with boards and CEO's to deliver growth and innovation, while navigating the global business environment.

Christine holds a Bachelor of Art in Accounting from the University of Texas, and a Master's degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

Francesca has 30 years of experience in automotive and other industries and is currently Chief Manufacturing and Supply Chain Officer at Volvo Cars. She has played an important role in advancing efficiency, sustainability and localisation in Volvo’s supply chain.

Prior to joining Volvo in 2023, Francesca held senior supply chain roles at Accell Group, Stellantis, Renault-Nissan, Alcan (now Rio Tinto) and Bosch.

Francesca has a Master of Science in Industrial Technology Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.

Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann is well known for his achievements as an automotive industry executive, CEO and Chairman, leading brands as significant as Opel and Continental AG.

Karl Thomas built a career spanning both automotive supplier and OEM brands, in Europe and in China. He has served as Chairman of the Board and President of Opel. In addition, he was also General Motors Executive Vice President & President Europe as well as a member of the GM Executive Committee. Previously Karl Thomas was with Volkswagen AG, where he was CEO and Vice President of Volkswagen Group China in Beijing.

Today Dr. Neumann is founder of KTN, an organisation created to support the transformation towards E-Mobility. He consults and actively invests in companies that are looking to help shape an electric future, while also sitting on the boards of various organisations. Notably he is Chairman of Autobrains Technologies a provider of solutions for the next generation of vehicles and mobility.

Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Dortmund.

Xiaojie Shen (Laura) is a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. She joined Volkswagen Group (China) in 2007, has held several senior management positions in the company such as Vice President for Special Projects leading Smart City project, Head of Sales & Service for VW Region China. Her last position was Managing Director and Board member of Volkswagen Group Import (China) for Bentley, Lamborghini and VW.

Prior to this, Xiaojie Shen (Laura) was Head of Sales of BMW Brilliance. She has a proven track record of managing complexity and delivering results and a broad knowledge of business strategy development and deployment, sales and marketing.

Xiaojie Shen (Laura) holds an MBA from State University of New York at Buffalo.

Cynthia Dubin is a senior executive and board director with over 30 years of experience in energy, finance, and industrial sectors. She currently serves on the boards and Audit Committees of ICE Futures Europe and Hurco Group Companies.

She previously held board positions at the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority, Franchise Group, Synthomer plc, and Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, and has served in senior executive roles at Pivot Power LLP, JKX Oil & Gas plc, and Edison Mission Energy, where she was European CFO.

Cynthia Dubin holds a BSBA in finance and economics from Georgetown University, a directorship certificate from the Institute of Directors (UK), and completed a Harvard course on board effectiveness.

Joe Zhang is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, with over a decade of leadership experience in corporate finance and strategic management. He joined the Group in 2014 and has held key roles including Deputy CFO, General Manager of the Financial Management Center, and Director of the Strategic Finance Center.

He currently serves on the boards of Smart Mobility Pte. Ltd., CaoCao Inc., Genius & Guru Investment Co. Ltd., Genius Auto Finance Co. Ltd., and other Geely Group companies.

Joe Zhang holds a Bachelor's degree in international accounting from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.