the TIER ONE
spirit team
Built with two words at the forefront: safety and agility
SPIRIT MANAGEMENT
OUR group leaders
RYAN MORRIS
SPIRIT CHAIRMAN
Founded Meson Capital Partners, LLC in 2009, an investment firm leveraging exponential technologies
Chairman, Turntide Technologies since Oct 2017, CEO July 2020 – 2023
Executive Chairman, Sevcon 2015-2016
Co-Founder and Engineer of profitable software company VideoNote, LLC
Cornell University Engineering: OR&IE B.S. and M.Eng
PETER SWAIN
CEO
Founded RBW Sports & Classics Limited in 2016 an early adopter Classic Electric Vehicle Company
Designed from concept through to road release and patent protected the RBW “Modular Electric Vehicle Systems”
Formed Spirit as a B2B service with the simple message to share his “lessons learned” – Experienced entrepreneur, business leader and CEO with a track record of growth and acquisition turnaround
Background in IP signalling, system electronics and electrical services providing services
MICHELLE RODER
SPIRIT CFO
Michelle is an experienced, proactive, and results-driven CIMA Qualified CFO. She guided her last company to grow from $12m to over $120m revenue in eight years. This included orchestrating the successful acquisition of seven companies, plus expanding the businesses portfolio and market presence significantly.
She will provide Spirit partners with a financial road map from concept to delivery. Michelle comes with a strong ability to innovate financial strategies and is well versed in leading complex projects such as spearheading the implementation of Business Intelligence (BI) statistical analysis into the budgeting and forecasting process.
LET US HELP YOU BRING YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE DREAM TO MARKET
the SPIRIT team
Spirit’s proven engineering expertise
NEIL HESLINGTON
SPIRIT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.” – Robert Greene
Neil has 44 years of experience in the auto industry. He studied mechanical and production engineering, followed by a degree in electronic engineering, and started his career with an indentured apprenticeship at Austin Rover in 1979. On completion of formal studies, he worked as a test and instrumentation engineer.
In 1989 he moved to Jaguar Sport. He was responsible for electrical engineering on low volume vehicles including XJR-S XJR4.0 and engine control for XJ220. When Jaguar Sport became TWR Engineering, Neil took on electrical engineering and engineering admin. His responsibilities included the Volvo C70 and being Chief Electrical Engineer for the Aston Martin DB7. Through TWR, he was responsible for engine electronics for Arrows Formula 1 team for 3 seasons
Neil joined Zytek Systems in 2000 where he led a team of engineers developing electrification projects on road cars as well as motorsport activities. Zytek Systems became Zytek Automotive with Neil as MD and grew to a team of over 100 engineers.
Zytek Highlights
General Motors Parallel Hybrid Truck (PHT): the world’s first production hybrid vehicle outside of Japan. Zytek designed electric drives in the Modec delivery vehicle and electric smart, full electric system design and deployment for phase 1 and phase 2 smart EV for 2600 vehicles.
Award winning, Zytek-developed, F1 KERS system for Mercedes McLaren with a first hybrid win in grand prix in 2009. Further hybrid system application, winning Japanese GT 500 with Honda.
First “ASIL D” safety application for road car with Audi R8 E-tron, powered by Zytek integrated drive.
Three world championship victories in Formula E for Zytek-designed and Zytek-built Renault drivetrains.
The RBW roadster EV programme through 2017 to 2023.
DEZ HILL
SPIRIT CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
“Spirit’s Future ATCS software is essential. If you do not control your own future, you control nothing.” – Dez Hill
Unrivalled time spent engineering experience in EV systems – Dez has been instrumental in bringing Spirit’s design to market, he is also lead engineer on Spirit “Futures ATCS” software, this is a multi-million-dollar automotive software control system enabling RBW and licenced partners to have complete control of system integration without having
to licence from OEM or third party software houses.
Triumph Motorcycles System team lead for Triumph Prototype electric motorcycles (TE 01). Systems lead for Advanced Rider assistance features (Adaptive Cruise Control, Brake Assist, etc) Continental Engineering Services – Functional Lead for Honda Clarity EV. Partly based in Japan.
System Lead for RBW Roadster
EV. Bentley Motors – Lead Component Engineer for High Voltage batteries on Bentayga and Flying Spur Models, Continental Engineering Services – System Lead and multiple EV projects including Audi RSe and Smart Phase 2 EV.
Lead Design Engineer for Battery Systems. Sagem SA System and Calibration engineer for motorcycle EMS. Customers include Triumph Motorcycles and Aprilia. 6 months on site in Italy with Aprilia as resident engineer.
Neurotech Ltd – Systems and Software consultant to Various Aerospace companies. Smiths Industries – Software engineer on various aircraft instrumentation projects.
PEYTON SELLERS
SPIRIT & RBW US OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Those of you in the US might know Peyton Sellers as an American professional stock car racing driver. He won the 2005 and 2021 National Championship of NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Running Sellers Brothers in Danville, Virginia. Sellers Brothers have been building new Morgan Olsen US Postal Service Vans for many years. Building new vehicles for Morgan Olsen and managing a successful race team are perfect transferable skills and knowledge. Coupled with his experienced team, Peyton is a standout choice to lead Spirit US, a real asset to RBW and Spirit alike. Peyton and his team have provided Spirit a “safe landing” as a proven manufacturer already building new vehicles for US highways.
Under the Spirit brand you can now access not only world-leading technical systems, but also local knowledge with an experienced American team for your projects. We have your back.
HARJ SAHOTA
SPIRIT HEAD OF VEHICLE COMPLIANCE
“Engineering is nothing without compliance” – Harj Sahota
Vehicle Type Approval Engineering expert, instilling ECWVTA, NSSTA, IVA and Conformity of Production (CoP) working practices for medium and large UK vehicle manufacturers.
Proprietor of GTO Automotive (11 years) providing homologation, legal and territory governance for vehicle compliance.
Homologation and Security Manager Renault, Thatcham, Motability.
Loughborough University of Technology Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) Automotive Engineering and Design.
IAN MILLS
SPIRIT TECHNICAL SALES DIRECTOR
“Who said you can’t develop a driver’s car in EV?” – Ian Mills
Highly experienced EV Platform
Chief Engineer and Head of Automotive Services
Chief Engineer, Continental Engineer Services EV for 21 years. Worked globally to bring to market vehicles for Aston Martin, Bentley, Daimler Benz, and Dodge. Extensive EV OEM experience. Production Program Manager for build and release of the first Electric Smart cars in 2005. Chief Engineer – Lucas, Zytek with F1 profile. Seconded to RBW from Continental for five years, Ian took the natural step to join RBW as the Managing Director. Ian will work closely with the Spirit Team to enhance clients’
features and needs alongside RBW’s own continuous improvement.
LUKE CLARKE
SPIRIT HEAD OF PROTOTYPE
“The can-do package and assessment guy”
Luke took Peter Swain’s concept design for the patented Spirit system and built the first road-going test platform. Luke has been working on the Spirit system in its various stages of growth from the outset in 2017.
From 2004 to 2007: Oxford and Cherwell College (Bicester) Degree in Motorsport Engineering, Tollbar 18 racing, Formula Ford mechanic, Hillspeed Racing, Formula Renault and Radical Chief Mechanic, Stadium Plastics injection moulding engineer.
From 2008-2023: Zytek Continental – LMP1/LMP2 chassis engineer – Dyno engineer (IC race engines) Track Support Technician, Prototype builder, Design support, Workshop Manager.