The automotive industry is undergoing more technological transformation now than it has in the past 100 years – and it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. With steep competition from global manufacturers and new market entrants, the industry is being pressured to consider digital strategies, manage costs, source materials through a global supply chain and remain compliant with local regulations.
According to research by ASUG, more than 71% of respondents are currently considering what technology is the right fit to help them keep their operations running and innovate ahead of rapidly changing consumer preferences. As a retool for the age of autonomous vehicles, automotive companies are facing a tug of war between spending time and money on today’s technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). To learn more about industry trends see: The State of the Automotive Industry 2019.
With all of this technological change, it can be hard to keep up with the most recent developments. That’s why we compiled this list of top autotech influencers on Twitter and LinkedIn. This group of industry leaders and subject matter experts are actively engaged in online discussions at the center of innovation in the automotive industry, making this list an excellent starting point to help you stay on top of key news and insights.
Roger C Lanctot
Director, Automotive Connect Mobility, Global Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics
Business development executive with a 25-year history as an electronics industry market analyst. Influential in: automotive telematics, smartphone apps, location tech and strategy analytics.
Tom Raftery
Global VP, Futurist and Innovation Evangelist at SAP
Global VP, Innovation Evangelist, Futurist and global influencer focused on how digitization and innovation are creatively disrupting industries and our world. Tom is an internationally recognized keynote speaker who will be a keynote at the Best Practices for Automotive conference, October 7-8 in Detroit.
Glenn Stevens
Executive Director, MICHauto and VP Automotive and Mobility Initiatives at Detroit Regional Chamber
Glenn Stevens | @glennrstevens
Executive Director with global experience in the automotive, steel, specialty chemical and capital equipment industries. Currently focused on digital disruption, the future of the automotive and smart mobility industries.
Stephanie Brinley
Principal Analyst, Americas at IHS Automotive
Automotive analyst who is passionate about cars and the fascinating industry that is behind developing and building them. Specializes in: automotive intelligence, autotech and the future of the industry.
Kristen Dziczek
Vice-President at the Center for Automotive Research
Leading automotive policy advisor, strategist and one of the most quoted automotive policy analysts in North America. Kristen will be speaking at the Best Practices for Automotive conference, October 7-8 in Detroit.
Michael Dunne
CEO at ZoZo Go
Author, keynote speaker and CEO of an investment advisory firm that delivers services to automakers, suppliers, investors, start-ups and high-net-worth individuals. Focused on changing automotive forces with a global impact.
Joe Barkai
Consultant and Speaker at Joe Barkai, and author of The Outcome Economy
Recognized automotive industry analyst and strategy adviser, a blogger, and a published author. His focus is on researching, forecasting, and the strategic application of technology to drive innovation, competitiveness, and business process excellence within the automotive industry and beyond. Joe will also be a judge for the 2019 SAP Automotive Industry Innovation Awards.
Jason Stein
Vice-President of Automotive News
Nationally recognized author, public speaker/guest moderator and a frequent commentator on international broadcast platforms about the automotive market. Automotive influencer that focuses on global industry trends, automotive technology and the future of mobility.
Guillaume Belloncle
Solution Manager, Transportation and Mobility Industry at Dassault Systèmes
Guillaume Belloncle | @GBelloncle
Passionate about innovation, technology and the future(s) of sustainable mobility – electrified, connected, automated, as-a-service and shared mobility. Influential in: 3D experience, the future of mobility, design thinking, autonomous vehicles and systems thinking.
William Newman
NA Strategic Industry Advisors at SAP
William Newman | @William_Newman
Automotive Advisor at SAP and Industry Strategist and Management Consultant with 30+ years of experience in strategy, planning and business transformation across multiple industry sectors. Influential in: automotive technology, transitioning to a digital business and digital disruption.
Judy Cubiss
Director and Global Marketing Lead, Automotive and Industrial Machinery and Components at SAP
Skilled executive with over 20 years working in the software industry who is interested in how innovation is disrupting the automotive industry and manufacturing. Also a passionate advocate of women in tech and encouraging girls to explore math and technology.
Angela Hall
Director of Business Development at Frost & Sullivan
Works with clients in the automotive sector to create innovative growth strategies that help accelerate growth and improve the decision-making processes. Car and truck enthusiast who is influential online for thoughts on automotive technology and disruption within the industry.
Reilly Brennan
Quality Engineer at Hollister Incorporated
Reilly Brennan | @reillybrennan
Founding general partner at Trucks, a seed-stage venture capital fund for entrepreneurs changing the future of transportation. Lecturer at Stanford University, School of Engineering where he teaches on the bridge between the fields of transportation, design and entrepreneurship.
Scott Painter
Founder and CEO at Fair.com
Scott Painter | @TheScottPainter
Passionate about cars, direct-to-consumer businesses and technology. Founder and CEO of Fair that is working to make getting a car better by letting people do it the same way they make countless other transactions – on their phones from wherever they are.
Thomas Bamonte
Senior Program Manager, Autonomous Vehicles at North Central Texas Council of Governments
Automotive influencer that is interested in transportation technology and innovation, automated vehicles, V2X technology and transportation planning. Currently responsible for building the automated vehicle program at the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann
Founder and Owner at KTN GmbH
Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann | @KT_Neumann
Experienced Executive Vice President with a 30+ year history of working in the automotive industry. Founder and Owner of KTN GmbH which invest and consults in companies that are supporting the transformation towards e-mobility.
Emily Castor Warren
Venture Partner at Fontinalis Partners
Emily Castor Warren | @emilycwarren_
Urbanist and shared mobility expert focused on leveraging new transportation technologies to advance the public interest. Thought-leader in the future of mobility, e-mobility and the future of energy.
Keith Johnston
Co-Founder at Urban Electric
Keith Johnston | @keith__johnston
Entrepreneur, advisor and social scientist that is developing retractable charging hubs that keep pavements clutter-free, enabling urban drivers that park on-street at night to switch to electric. Influential on topics related to electric vehicles, climate change, urban transportation and the future of energy.
Mark Halliday
Consultant Product Officer at FAXI
Experienced product leader in automotive and smarter mobility. Passionate about driving disruptive innovation in connected vehicles.
Best Practices for Automotive conference 2019
Want to learn more about the changing nature of the automotive industry? Join us at the Best Practices for Automotive conference, October 7-8 in Detroit.
The Best Practices for Automotive conference is North America’s leading event for industry professionals to gain insights into digital technology trends and the latest solutions from SAP. Learn from automotive organizations who are driving results with people, process, and technology in today’s complex automotive landscape. Produced by Eventful Conferences—an ASUG company—and in collaboration with SAP, Best Practices for Automotive is a critical junction for SAP automotive users, leaders, influencers, experts, solutions providers, and your peers.
Hear expert insights from some of these thought-leaders:
- Tom Raftery (@TomRaftery), speaking on The Future of Transportation: Optimizing for People, Planet, and Profit
- Kathy Pearson, speaking on Strategic Agility: Leading Through Uncertainty
- Kelly Stalcup and Kerry Brown, speaking on The Future of Work
- David Mingle, speaking on Customer Experience in the New Age of Mobility
- Jason Ballard, speaking on Automotive Value Chain Dynamics in Industry 4.0
View the full 2019 speakers list here.
Keep up-to-date on conference content and more by following @BP4Auto on Twitter and @EventfulConferences on Instagram.