Tony Aquila

Tony Aquila, is an American businessman, investor and serial entrepreneur.[1] He is the current CEO and chairman of Canoo Technologies, Inc.[2], founder and former chairman and CEO of Solera Holdings, a technology company that provides risk and asset management software and services to the automotive industry, as well as the property and casualty insurance industry.[3][4][5][6]

Tony Aquila
Born
Richmond, CA
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Chairman & CEO of Canoo Inc., and Founder & Chairman and CEO of AFV Partners LLC
EmployerCanoo Inc.
AwardsNational EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2013 Technology Award winner

Aquila was also chairman of Sportradar, a provider of sports data intelligence between February 2019 and July 2020.[7]

Prior to founding Solera, Aquila served in executive positions with Mitchell International, Inc., Ensera, Inc. and MaxMeyer."[8][9]

Early life

Aquila was born in Richmond, California to an immigrant and military family.[10] After dropping out of high school, Aquila worked at his uncle's body shop sweeping floors and replacing windshields.[5][10][11]

Business career

Canoo Technologies, Inc.

Tony Aquila was an initial investor in Canoo, before becoming a member of the Board. He was named Board Chair in October, 2020,[12] and CEO in March 2021.[13] Utilizing their Multi-Purpose Platform, they plan to build multiple variants of vehicles such as the Canoo LV [14](LifeStyle Vehicle), MPDV[15] (Multi Purpose Delivery Vehicle), Canoo Truck,[16] and upcoming Canoo Sports Vehicle.[17] Currently, the LV is planned for production in late 2022. The MPDV, Truck, and Sports Car are planned for 2023 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Solera Holdings, Inc.

Since founding the company in 2005, Aquila served as the chairman and CEO of Solera Holdings until his departure in May 2019.[18][19]

Mitchell International, Inc.

Aquila is the former president and chief operating officer of Mitchell International, Inc., a company that provides claims estimating and communications software to insurance carriers. Aquila joined Mitchell in 2001 after it had acquired Ensera.[8][9][20]

Ensera, Inc.

Aquila was founder and CEO of Ensera, Inc., a claims workflow software company for the vehicle insurance and collision industry.[10]

MaxMeyer America, Inc.

Prior to Ensera, Aquila was founder and CEO of MaxMeyer America, Inc. (a subsidiary of MaxMeyer Duco, SPA, Italy), an importer and distributor of European automotive refinishing products. In 1997, PPG Industries acquired MaxMeyer Duco, SPA.[8][9][20]

Controversies

Solera Global Holding Corp.

Following the take-private transaction of Solera, Aquila’s leadership failures and misplaced spending priorities, among other things, led to Solera missing its plan objectives. Aquila’s brash, vulgar, and belittling comments to colleagues resulted in significant personnel turnover, including in the executive ranks. A 2018 investigation initiated after a complaint from one of Aquila’s subordinates uncovered aggressive and abusive behavior by Aquila in violation of Solera’s code of conduct, substantiated by Aquila’s own admissions. His behavior had a significant adverse impact on Solera’s ability to retain employees.[21]

Canoo Inc.

On March 29, 2021, Canoo, an electric vehicle company, announced that it would be changing its business model by deemphasizing its engineering services and subscription-based business. On the same day, Canoo issued a press release stating its fourth quarter and full year 2020 results, and removed language about its "unique business model" from its statement. During a conference call to discuss its financial results, the company's CEO, Tony Aquila, announced that the CFO was being replaced. As a result of this news, shares of Canoo dropped 21.2% the next day. A lawsuit was filed alleging that the company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose the changes to its business model.[22]

References
  1. "AFV Partners | Tony Aquila". AFV Partners. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  2. "Canoo: Electric Lifestyle, Sport and Working Vehicles". www.canoo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  3. "Solera Holdings Announces Jeffrey R. Tarr as New CEO | Solera". www.solera.com. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. "10-Q SEC Filling". Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  5. "CEO Goes From Garage to Running a $5B Auto Co". Bloomberg. February 20, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. Huetter, John (June 4, 2019). "Aquila describes decision to leave Solera, gives full support to new CEO Tarr". Repairer Driven News. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  7. "Sportradar announces appointment of new chairman Tony Aquila with the addition of three international members". Sportradar. February 5, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  8. "United States SEC Filings Form S-1". SEC. United States Securities and Exchange Commission. February 12, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  9. "Tony Aquila - Executive Bio, Compensation History, and Contacts - Equilar Atlas". people.equilar.com. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  10. "Tony Aquila: "I Saw It as the Perfect Deal"". AGRR. 16 (6): 34–36. 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  11. Heid, Jason (2014). "Breakfast With: Tony Aquila". D CEO. D Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2016.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. "Electric Vehicle Company Canoo Announces Appointment Of Tony Aquila As Executive Chairman". Press | Canoo. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  13. "Executive Chairman Tony Aquila Also Named CEO of Canoo to Lead Next Phase of Company's Growth". Press | Canoo. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  14. "Canoo Vehicle". www.canoo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  15. "Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle". www.canoo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  16. "Pickup Truck". www.canoo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  17. "Future". www.canoo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  18. Womack, Brian (May 30, 2019). "Solera replacing founder Tony Aquila with data and technology veteran for CEO role". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. O'Donnell, Paul (June 4, 2019). "Solera Holdings founder Tony Aquila says new CEO joins firm with his 'full support'". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  20. "GTCR Announces Partnership with Tony Aquila to Form Solera | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com (Press release). Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  21. "Aquila vs Solera 2019" (PDF). repairerdrivennews.com. September 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  22. "GOEV INVESTOR LAWSUIT DEADLINE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reminds Investors of the Deadline to File a Lead Plaintiff Motion in a Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against Canoo, Inc".


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