Automotive supplier Dana Incorporated announced today that its board has established a new committee focused on technological and environmental stewardship. Dana’s new Technology and Sustainability Committee will be responsible for assisting the Board with oversight relating to innovation, new technologies, and sustainability and social responsibility.

The company announced that the new committee will be chaired by Diarmuid O’Connell, who served as Tesla’s Vice President of Business Development and as a member of the electric vehicle company’s executive team from 2006 to 2017.  O’Connell also served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. 

O’Connell said:

“Innovation and sustainability are critically important to the future of business in the mobility industry. The addition of this Committee is another demonstration of Dana’s focus on delivering innovation in a socially responsible manner as we achieve our vision to be the global leader in efficient power conveyance and energy-management solutions for the mobility industry.”

Other members of the committee will include Bridget Karlin, Global Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of IBM Global Technology Services, and Raymond E. Mabus, Jr., Founding Principal and CEO of The Mabus Group and former U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

Dana stated that the committee will have the following key areas of focus:

• The strategy, implementation, and effectiveness of Dana’s research and development initiatives;
• Emerging trends in science, technology, and related regulations;
• The company’s strategic approach to technical talent management; and
• Sustainability and social responsibility activities.

said James Kamsickas, Dana chairman and CEO, said:

“Dana is committed to delivering innovations that offer considerable value for our customers while also taking careful consideration for the impact those products and services will have on the environment and in our communities. Establishing this Committee provides our Board additional visibility into how we are leveraging the company’s resources to deliver on our technology roadmaps and social responsibility objectives.”