Nikola Corp., a leading manufacturer of zero-emissions trucks, has appointed Tom Schmitt, the former CEO of Forward Air, as its new Chief Commercial Officer. Schmitt’s exit from Forward Air in February followed a contentious merger with Omni Logistics, which was marred by significant shareholder dissatisfaction and regulatory scrutiny.
The merger, which Schmitt orchestrated, was intended to transform Forward Air into a dual role of both capacity provider and competitor. However, the deal faced intense backlash, leading to a dramatic 90 percent drop in Forward Air’s stock price from its announcement in August 2023 to a mid-May low.
At Nikola, Schmitt will be responsible for scaling the company’s operations, focusing on areas such as sales, commercial operations, dealerships, service, customer success, and marketing. Nikola’s president and CEO, Steve Girsky, emphasized the importance of enhancing the commercial team to improve customer experience and expand the zero-emission Class 8 truck market. Girsky highlighted Schmitt’s extensive 35-year track record as a significant asset to Nikola’s strategic and operational ambitions.
Prior to his tenure at Forward Air, Schmitt served as Chief Commercial Officer at DB Schenker and was recognized for his role in restructuring and selling Aqua Terra in 2015. He has also held leadership positions at Purolator and FedEx Supply Chain.
Schmitt expressed enthusiasm about joining Nikola, noting his long-standing interest in the company’s mission to decarbonize the trucking industry. His appointment comes as Nikola seeks to recover financially following the fraud conviction of its founder, Trevor Milton, and undergoes several executive changes under Girsky’s leadership, who joined Nikola a year ago.
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