Lightyear CEO Hoefsloot hands over the wheel

Lightyear has appointed Bonna Newman as its new CEO. She’s succeeding company founder Lex Hoefsloot, who’s shifting his focus to the longer-term potential of the Helmond-based automotive startup. With Marnix Borghouts, the new CEO will also find a new CFO at her side. The leadership change comes as the Amsterdam district court is concluding its investigation into the dealings of Lightyear’s management in the run-up to the bankruptcy.

Lightyear, which relaunched at the start of last year, initially didn’t want to give up the dream of its own solar car. Gradually, however, the focus shifted to producing solar roofs for other car manufacturers. It now aims to offer its on-board solar charging system technology to the entire passenger car market. Newman’s extensive network, knowledge and expertise in the solar and vehicle-integrated PV sector will be valuable for maximizing impact. The new CEO holds a PhD in physics from MIT and has worked throughout the PV sector for almost two decades, including at ECN and TNO.

Borghouts started his career as an accountant at KPMG. The new CFO is an operational finance executive with over thirty years of global experience in a variety of industries. According to Lightyear, he has a track record on growth and turnaround, compliance and delivering trust to both external and internal stakeholders, bringing in-depth and hands-on skills for growth, corporate finance and strategy.