Tim Woolmer, driven by a desire to disrupt and innovate the automotive industry began work on axial flux electric motor technology back in 2005 whilst at the University of Oxford. In 2009, he founded YASA with the mission to “Accelerate Electrification.” Under Tim’s leadership as Founder and CTO, YASA has become a prominent force in the industry, with the fully owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz poised for an even greater impact on the electric transition.
Markus Keicher, a seasoned executive with a rich and international history in automotive leadership, brings over two decades of experience to his role as CEO of YASA. Having commenced his career at DaimlerChrysler AG in 1998, Markus ascended through management ranks at Mercedes-Benz, honing his expertise in powertrain and vehicle production and site management, in various countries.
At YASA, he spearheads the company's vision, leveraging his extensive background to propel the electrification agenda, while overseeing the delivery of key projects.
Scott Barnes is a Chartered Engineer with more than 35 years’ experience in the design, development and delivery of powertrain and vehicle projects for a wide range of applications. He leads the delivery of the project portfolio at YASA, with the YASA Project Management team reporting directly to him.
Prior to joining YASA, Scott worked for 25 years in engineering consultancy with Ricardo, where he most recently served as Project Director delivering large powertrain programmes from concept to production.
Graeme Cook is an accomplished Managing Director with extensive experience spanning aerospace, automotive, and oil & energy sectors. With strategic leadership and profound industry insight, he fronts innovation and business growth at YASA.
Prior to YASA, Graeme held the roles of Director of Operations and Managing Director at automotive and off-highway vehicle electrification company, AVID Technologies. During his tenure as Managing Director at AVID, Graeme successfully guided the management team to the disposal of the VCT-backed business.
Andy Court, an experienced engineer with over 25 years’ experience, brings a breadth of knowledge to his role as Chief of Industrialisation at YASA. With a background rooted in the electric product development and production for high-volume applications and mass manufacture, Andy has held positions at both Bosch and ZF.
Joining YASA as chief engineer in 2010, he has witnessed the brand's evolution first-hand, guiding its trajectory across various stages of development. In his current role, Andy is helping deliver the company’s mission through operational excellence.
Kat is the General Counsel, Company Secretary and oversees Data Protection at YASA. A qualified solicitor, Kat started her legal career in 2004 at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in the City where she spent the majority of her career as a Commercial and Intellectual Property Law specialist.
Kat holds a Law LLB (First Class) from King’s College London and a Diploma in Intellectual Property Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford. Kat has experience working with a variety of companies including in-house and across a diverse range of sectors such as technology, automotive, aerospace, consumer, retail and media.
James Golding boasts an impressive 28-years of experience within the automotive industry, with previous roles covering manufacturing, engineering, quality management, supplier and new product development across both OEM and Tier 1 levels.
James’ career has seen him work for McLaren Automotive, BMW, Protean Electric and JLR prior to joining YASA. With a proven track record of success, James now plays a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of quality across the organization as YASA’s Quality Director.
Phil Thompson brings over two decades of experience in financial management within the high-performance automotive industry to his role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at YASA. Across an impressive career working with iconic names like PRODRIVE, Caterham F1, Lotus F1, and Renault F1, Phil has honed his financial expertise.
At YASA, Phil not only oversees financial operations but also plays a pivotal role in fostering key relationships, particularly with Mercedes, leveraging his unique insight and financial prowess to drive the company’s progress.
Lucy Townsend has experience across different sectors, working with engineers for nearly 20 years. Lucy is responsible for leading YASA’s People function as well as building the company’s employee, talent, and L&D strategies. Prior to YASA, she was Head of People at an engineering start-up and before that HR Manager at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. Lucy also spent five years in the charity sector, working with Oxfam GB – in the Humanitarian HR team – to provide support to international humanitarian programmes.
A Chartered HR professional, Lucy has been a trustee of Oxfordshire Mind since 2018, chairing the HR sub-committee until 2024. She is a passionate advocate for mental health support.
With over two decades of expertise in the automotive and consulting sectors, Chris is well versed in delivering top-tier electrified powertrain products. Implementing strategic and innovative solutions to enhance business performance for global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers including as JLR, Ricardo and SAIC.
At YASA, Chris leads large cross-functional teams in the design and development of cutting-edge electric motor technology and associated powertrain systems. With a proven record of delivering top-tier electrified powertrain products, Chris is driving YASA forwards.
