Donald Runkle

Joining EcoMotors as CEO in 2009, Don Runkle brings a wealth of automotive and executive leadership experience to the company.

During his tenure at General Motors, he served in a range of key executive capacities including: chief engineer of Chevrolet, chief engineer of powertrain and racing at the Buick Division, director of Advanced Vehicle Engineering, vice president of GM’s Advanced Engineering Staff and vice president of GM’s North American Engineering Center General Motors. In 1996 he joined Delphi Corporation where he co-led the IPO process for the company. He served as Delphi Vice Chairman until mid-2005.

Runkle holds both bachelors and masters degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He was also a Sloan Fellow, receiving his masters’ degree in management science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career highlights:

• 4 years of Private Equity Experience including Chairman and Operating Executive roles
• 6 years in top leadership positions of Delphi, including
  • Vice-Chairman, CTO and Director
  • EVP & President of Delphi $14B Dynamics and Propulsion Sector
  • VP & President of Delphi $7B Energy/Engine Management Systems Division
  • VP & President of Delphi $3B Saginaw Division
• 31 years with GM, in a series of increasingly important product and business development posts

Projects included:

• Deployed Lean Principles throughout Delphi’s $8.5B manufacturing organization with 171 worldwide manufacturing facilities and integration of engineering and purchasing organizations
• Implemented Strategic Partner purchasing system covering $15B of direct and $3.5B of indirect material purchases
• Led GM Impact electric vehicle concept leading to the production GM EV1 electric vehicle
• Led over $4B in global M&A transactions
• Co-led creation of U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) with the U.S. Department of Energy
• Led development of countless advanced concept vehicles and powertrains including the high performance CERV III Corvette, Express Gas Turbine, HX3 motors-in-wheel hybrid, award winning 100 MPG Ultralite carbon-fiber vehicle and GM Sunraycer, the World Solar Challenge winner.

Other activities and awards:

• Chairman, EaglePicher Corporation
• Chairman, Autocam Corporation
• Operating Executive, Tennenbaum Capital Partners
• Director, Environmental Systems Holdings
• Director, Lean Enterprise Institute
• Director, Wincup Corporation
• Advisor, ActaCell Corporation
• Member, MIT Sloan School Executive Board
• "Wu Manufacturing Leadership" award for role model in visionary leadership and strategic thinking
• "Car of the Year" award
• "Top Ten Engine" award
• Shingo Prize Academy Lifetime Member for distinguished manufacturing excellence
• ASM Medal for Advancement of Research
• Responsible for Chevrolet’s and Buick’s racing organizations which led to countless Racing Victories in NASCAR, IndyCar and Off-Shore competitions