January 16, 2020: Former Exide Technologies CEO and president Vic Koelsch has joined US motorcycle, snowmobile and powersport electrical vehicles maker Polaris in the newly created position of chief digital officer. He began on January 13.

“With both technology and customers’ digital expectations evolving faster than ever, Koelsch will own our digital strategy,” the company said. “He will be responsible for accelerating Polaris’ development and integration of digital technologies into its products, services and experiences, as well as leading the creation of new business solutions and digital offerings.”

Koelsch said: “I look forward to joining Polaris and leveraging my background in bringing innovative, digitally enabled business models and solutions to market that will drive significant transformation and impact across our business and deliver breakthrough value and new experiences for our customers.”

Koelsch was appointed president and CEO of Exide Technologies in November 2015, following the acceptance of a re-structuring plan for the company as it moved out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Almost exactly three years later, in November 2018, he was replaced by Tim Vargo, who was already on Exide’s board of directors and has much experience in automotive parts manufacturing and distributing firms.

Polaris is headquartered in Minnesota, US.