Xpeng Motors, a leading Chinese electric vehicle company, has announced the appointment of Dr Brian Gu as Vice-Chairman and President. He will report to Chairman He Xiaopeng and will lead Xpeng’s global strategy, finance, fundraising, investments and international partnerships.
Xpeng Motors Appoints Dr Brian Gu as Vice Chairman and President
Dr Gu most recently served as Chairman of Asia Pacific Investment Banking for J.P. Morgan and is a member of J.P. Morgan’s Global Strategic Advisory Council. He joined J.P. Morgan in 2004 and has held a variety of leadership roles instrumental in building J.P. Morgan’s franchise in the Asia Pacific region.
“I am very excited to welcome Dr Gu on board as a part of Xpeng Motors’ leadership team. While the market opportunity for internet-connected electric vehicles is tremendous, capitalising on that opportunity requires an all-star leadership team to move the company forward,” Xiaopeng said. “Strong financing, independent innovation and high-quality manufacturing are three critical pillars for Xpeng’s future growth. Dr Gu’s deep experience in technology, finance and global strategy make him a perfect fit to help the Company take the next step in its growth.”
Xpeng is accelerating its growth this year with the announcement of its latest model, the G3, in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The flagship model is designed to appeal to China’s new generation of young consumers that embrace an attitude of both exploration and innovation.
Dr Gu said: “The internet and new technology are disrupting traditional industries worldwide and new companies that embrace innovation at their core are winning across the globe. Xpeng is one of the new global champions because it is embracing the use of artificial intelligence and new electric vehicle technology to tackle China’s transportation challenge. I look forward to joining Xpeng’s leadership team and helping to pave the way for its next chapter of growth and innovation.”
Dr Gu brings two decades of experience advising global multinational companies, as well as China’s most prominent technology companies and entrepreneurs. Before joining J.P. Morgan, he worked in the global M&A and global healthcare practice of Lehman Brothers in New York from 1998 to 2004. Prior to his Wall Street career, he was a senior research scientist at the University of Washington Medical School. He holds an MBA from Yale University, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Washington Medical School and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oregon.
Xpeng Motors is a leading Chinese electric vehicle company that designs and manufactures automobiles that are seamlessly integrated with the internet and utilise the latest advances in artificial intelligence. The company’s initial backers include Xiaopeng, the founder of UCWeb and a former Alibaba executive. It was co-founded in 2014 by Henry Xia and He Tao, former senior executives at Guangzhou Auto with expertise in innovative automotive technology and R&D. It has received funding from prominent Chinese and international investors including Alibaba Group, Foxconn Group and IDG Capital. Xpeng Motors is headquartered in Guangzhou, China.
