Orange EV Names Kurt Neutgens Chief

Orange EV announced a leadership change on June 30, 2026. Orange EV announced that co-founder Kurt Neutgens, previously President and Chief Technology Officer, has become CEO, with Wayne Mathisen stepping back from day-to-day leadership and Antonio Alva hired as COO.

What changed

Kurt Neutgens was named Chief Executive Officer. Wayne Mathisen, who has been CEO since co-founding Orange EV with Neutgens in 2012, is stepping back from day-to-day leadership after fourteen years and will continue as a board advisor.

Leader: Kurt Neutgens
Role: Chief Executive Officer
Effective: Not specified in the announcement
Announcement date: June 30, 2026

Leadership background

Neutgens is a co-founder of Orange EV and previously served as President and Chief Technology Officer. Before the company was founded, he spent more than a year analyzing commercial vehicle duty cycles to identify where electrification could deliver a meaningful operational advantage, a search that led him to the terminal truck. He previously focused on the company’s technology, product roadmap, manufacturing strategy, service model, and operational direction.

The mandate

Orange EV said it continues to build out its leadership team to address growth brought on by an inflection point in the terminal truck market, and that its mission remains unchanged: to help operators modernize their yard operations.

Why this matters for GTM teams

Executive appointments can precede changes in strategy, operating cadence, hiring, partnerships, and technology priorities. The useful signal is not the title alone: teams should watch the new leader’s stated mandate, prior playbook, organizational scope, and the initiatives announced during the first two quarters.

Source and methodology

This leadership profile is based on the company’s announcement. Roles, transition timing, and biographical details are presented as announced; SalesTools Research does not infer undisclosed succession plans.

Orange EV