Mike Nakrani: From subsistence living in India to leading the charge in e-fleet solutions.

In this episode, we are celebrating the career to date of Mike Nakrani.

Mike is the Chief Executive Officer of VEV, the innovative e-fleet solutions provider backed by energy sector leader Vitol. With over two decades of experience in the mobility sector, Mike has navigated pivotal roles at Ford and BP, combining his expertise in sustainable transportation and energy transition with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Mike’s story begins in a small village in India, where his family lived a subsistence lifestyle, before moving to England when he was six years old. He recalls meeting his father for the first time at the airport, an early chapter in a life shaped by resilience and adaptability.

In our conversation, Mike shares how a mentor guided him to take on challenging production line management early in his career at Ford—a move that stretched him but ultimately defined his professional path. We discuss his entrepreneurial foray into scooters while working full-time, his strategic leadership roles at Ford, and the decision to leave BP to build VEV with Vitol’s backing, helping organizations electrify their fleets and accelerate the energy transition.

Mike’s deep focus on people and purpose shines through as he reflects on the importance of getting the right people in the right roles and supporting them to thrive. Whether it’s starting with the local milkman at nine years old or driving a major industry shift toward electrification, Mike’s journey is filled with insights that will inspire and resonate with listeners.

Connect with Mike

LinkedIn Profile
Company Website

About Andy

I'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.

During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.

At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.

I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.

Learn more about Fulfilling Performance

Check out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.

Connect with Andy

LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Join a guided peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy

Thank you to our sponsors:

ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror  

If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app. 

Episode recorded on 16 January, 2025.