Hydrogen Central

Thomas B Okray Named Chief Financial Officer of Nikola Corporation – Experienced CFO primed to take on new opportunities with zero-emissions trucking and hydrogen infrastructure solutions

nikola chief officer hydrogen

Thomas B Okray Named Chief Financial Officer of Nikola Corporation – Experienced CFO primed to take on new opportunities with zero-emissions trucking and hydrogen infrastructure solutions.

Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, today announced the appointment of an accomplished and highly regarded financial executive, Thomas “Tom” B. Okray, who has joined the company’s executive team as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Stephen Girsky, President and CEO, said:

We are proud to welcome Tom as our CFO. Attracting someone of his caliber is a testament to the exciting journey Nikola is on.

“Tom’s depth of financial expertise, cultivated over four decades, will play a crucial role as we expand our supply base and profitably scale our business. Tom will not only complete our executive team, but also help to solidify our foundation for success as we continue to reshape the trucking industry and drive decarbonization forward.”

This marks Okray’s fourth tenure as CFO of a public company. Previously Okray served as Executive Vice President (EVP) and CFO at Eaton Corporation, an intelligent power management company that provides solutions across the propulsion spectrum, Senior Vice President (SVP) and CFO at Grainger, and EVP and CFO at Advance Auto Parts. Okray also held various executive and CFO roles at General Motors over a 14 plus year period, including extensive time in product development. His expansive career has taken him around the world, with stints in Germany, Italy, Poland, and Korea, and considerable time spent in China, India, and Brazil.

Okray, said:

I have traveled the globe over the past 40 years and worked with cutting-edge technologies across various vehicles. Scaling the zero-emissions technology at Nikola is something I want to be a part of.

“My connection with some of Nikola’s leadership spanning decades made the decision even more natural. I believe in Nikola’s mission and what they are working to do in the trucking and energy sectors and am excited to join the company and contribute in any way possible.”

ABOUT THOMAS B. OKRAY

Thomas “Tom” B. Okray serves as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Nikola Corporation.

Okray joined Nikola from Eaton, where he held the position of EVP and CFO. He also served as SVP and CFO of Grainger and as EVP and CFO of Advance Auto Parts. Prior to that role, he held Vice President positions at Amazon.

At General Motors, Okray started as a Senior Analyst and eventually rose to the position of CFO of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. In this capacity, he provided financial leadership for research and development, engineering operations, procurement, supply chain, capital, future portfolio strategy, future vehicle and powertrain projects, and third-party alliances. Okray also served as CFO of Global Product Development, Executive Director of Product Development in Asia and Europe, and Vice President of the Fiat-GM Powertrain joint venture, among other positions at Opel.

Okray serves on the board of directors of Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS), The Cleveland Orchestra, and The City Mission.

Okray is a graduate of Michigan State University, with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with concentrations in finance, statistics, production and operations, and business policy from the University of Chicago.

ABOUT NIKOLA CORPORATION

Nikola Corporation’s mission is clear: pioneering solutions for a zero-emissions world. As an integrated truck and energy company, Nikola is transforming transportation and over-the-road freight services. With our Class 8 vehicles, including battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, and our energy brand, HYLA, we are driving the advancement of the complete hydrogen refueling ecosystem. This encompasses supply, distribution, and dispensing, reflecting our commitment to sustainable practices and a cleaner future.

Nikola is based in Phoenix, Arizona with a manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona. 

READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central

Thomas B Okray Named Chief Financial Officer of Nikola Corporation – Experienced CFO primed to take on new opportunities with zero-emissions trucking and hydrogen infrastructure solutions. source

Get our LinkedIn updates!

Join our weekly newsletter!

Follow us

Don't be shy, get in touch. We love meeting interesting people and making new friends.