TITLE: Executive Vice President Industry
COMPANY: Renault Group 
BASED: Boulogne-Billancourt, France 
AGE: 61
NATIONALITY: Spanish

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Jose Vicente de los Mozos holds degrees in aerospace engineering and production techniques. He started his career at Renault in 1978 as an apprentice and then joined the engineering team at the automaker’s Valladolid, Spain, factory. De los Mozos then held management positions in manufacturing in Spain and production engineering in France before joining alliance partner Nissan in 2003, where he became managing director Nissan Motor Iberia. He moved to supplier Ficosa in 2008, then rejoined Renault Group in 2009, becoming vice president Vehicle Manufacturing Operations. In 2012 he added the position of managing director Renault Spain, and in 2013 he was named executive vice president Manufacturing and Supply Chain. He was named to his current post (including head of Renault Iberia) in January 2021. 

REASON FOR WINNING

The transition to electrification is putting pressure on Europe’s production network, which was largely established to build and supply internal combustion vehicles. Renault Group is taking a new approach by focusing on the “circular economy” -- recycling, refurbishing and renewing vehicles and components to extend their life cycle, reduce waste and save resources. These new activities will also preserve employment at a challenging time for Europe's automotive industry.

De los Mozos and Renault CEO Luca de Meo have started this transformation with the first “Refactory” in Flins, near Paris. Millions of cars have been built on the site, but now it is a hive of alternative activity, including reconditioning used cars, recycling EV batteries and developing hydrogen powertrains, among others. Now, a second Refactory is planned for Seville, Spain, where de los Mozos is also head of Renault Iberia.