Nikola’s CEO is leaving in just 18 months

US-based electric and hydrogen semi-truck manufacturer Nikola announced on 4th August 2023, that its President and CEO Michael Lohscheller will be departing the firm effective immediately.

Stephen Girsky, a previous General Motors executive who served as chairman of the board, will take over as CEO. Girsky will keep his board seat but relinquish his Chairmanship as he transitions to CEO, effective immediately. Lohscheller’s predecessor, Mark Russell, served as CEO for fewer than 18 months as well, making Girsky the company’s fourth CEO in as many years.

Lohscheller has only been CEO for a short time. He was appointed president of Nikola in March 2022 and CEO in November of last year. Nikola concentrated its operations on the US market during his tenure as president and CEO.

Lohscheller previously worked for Volkswagen Group, where he was the CEO of Volkswagen USA. Before joining Nikola, Loscheller was CEO of VinFast, a Vietnamese automaker that recently began selling electric SUVs in the United States. Several of Nikola’s trucks were recently destroyed in a fire at the company’s headquarters. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Nikola stated at the time that “foul play” was suspected. The fire is still being investigated.