The Merge 2026

Elizabeth “Liz” Cannon helps clients navigate the fast-evolving landscape of national security, technology, and global trade. She brings deep insight from senior roles across the U.S. government and the private sector, guiding companies as they manage regulatory scrutiny, supply chain risk, and cross-border compliance challenges.

Liz served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services (OICTS) within the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). She built and led an 85-person multidisciplinary team and oversaw a program governing the import, use and procurement of foreign adversary information and communications technology and services (ICTS) in the United States. Liz also led the development of the connected vehicle rule, shaping how the automotive industry approaches global technology sourcing and national security risk.

Liz previously served as Senior Counsel for Global Trade at a major technology company, advising leadership on export controls, sanctions, and China-related risk. She managed internal investigations, oversaw trade-related due diligence, implemented semiconductor-related controls, and prepared executives for congressional and executive-branch engagement.

Before working in-house, Liz spent eleven years in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, including five years as Deputy Chief for Export Controls and Sanctions, where she supervised all criminal export control and sanctions prosecutions nationwide. She also served as a Trial Attorney handling matters involving espionage, economic espionage, export controls, sanctions, national security cyber offenses, malign foreign influence, and mishandling of classified information.

Liz began her career at an international law firm, focusing on internal investigations and monitorships involving sanctions, export controls, and FCPA matters.

John Casesa is Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners, a global investment and advisory firm. He was previously Group Vice President, Global Strategy at Ford Motor Company, where he led strategy and business development and reported to the CEO. At Ford he created numerous new businesses including Argo AI, a rapidly-growing developer of an autonomous vehicle software platform built to serve customers industry-wide.

Casesa was one of Wall Street’s leading auto analysts for almost two decades, at Merrill Lynch and at Schroders. His thought-leading research changed the way investors understood many aspects of the auto industry. He authored Car Wars, which remains a benchmark for measuring automaker competitiveness, and Who Makes the Car, which presented a new framework for understanding the supply chain. In 2005, his Energy Security & Climate Change foretold the clean car revolution that is playing out today.

He was ranked as an All-Star eleven times by Institutional Investor magazine and helped write the New York Stock Exchange’s qualifying exam for securities analysts (Series 86). Prior to Wall Street, he was a member of GM’s Marketing and Product Planning Staff.

Casesa holds a BS from St. John’s University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Steve Croley was named Ford’s chief policy officer and general counsel in July 2021. In this role, Croley heads the company’s world-class teams influencing and advancing progress in areas like technology, trade and sustainability amid rapid transformation in transportation. He reports to Ford President and CEO Jim Farley.

Croley guides the company as it further leverages and builds on its strengths in government relations, sustainability, safety, legal and privacy.

Prior to Ford, Croley was a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Latham & Watkins, where he assisted clients with legal policy and regulatory compliance, with an emphasis on energy and the environment. From 2014 to 2017, Croley served as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy. Croley spent the previous four years in the White House, first as special assistant to President Barack Obama for regulatory policy, then as deputy counsel overseeing legal policy.

Earlier, Croley was a special assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan’s Civil Division, and a professor, then associate dean, at the University of Michigan Law School. He did his undergraduate work at U-M, earned his law degree from Yale University, and holds a doctorate in government from Princeton University.

Tim Ingle serves as group vice president and chief financial officer for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), responsible for accounting, finance, tax and enterprise strategy.

Prior to this role, Tim Ingle served as group vice president of Enterprise Strategy for TMNA. In this role, Ingle was responsible for mid- to long-term core business strategies, including market and consumer insights, transformation and new business opportunities, portfolio and compliance strategies and overall business planning, meant to support sustainable mobility for TMNA customers.

Ingle also served as vice president of North America Finance, and vice president of Strategic Planning, where he was responsible for North America business strategy and planning, portfolio management, enterprise risk management, corporate governance and new strategic initiatives.

Ingle has served in a number of project planning, operations and corporate strategy roles, since he began his career at TMNA in 2002.

Prior to Toyota, Ingle held project management roles at other large organizations, including Intel and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Ingle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a Master of Science in Management, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Shane Karr was appointed Head of External Affairs, FCA – North America in December 2016 and assumed his current role following the January 2021 merger that formed Stellantis, N.V. Karr is responsible for providing strategic direction on international, federal and state/provincial government relations for the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He also leads the team responsible for site selection and public sector negotiations for the Company’s major industrial investments, including the Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack Plant and recently announced joint venture battery plants in Windsor, Ontario and Kokomo, Indiana.

Prior to joining the Company, Karr was Vice President of Federal Government Affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. In this role, he represented the Alliance before members of Congress, congressional staff, and Executive Branch officials, including staff at the Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Karr also has held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Transportation, including Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs. He has also served as a staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Karr holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University (1992), a master’s degree from Temple University (1996), and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, Cum Laude from Georgetown University Law Center (2002).

Karr was born in Sumter, SC.

Elizabeth Krear is the President & CEO of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), bringing more than three decades of engineering, product development, and strategic leadership experience in the global automotive industry. She is recognized for her ability to guide organizations through transformational change, particularly in the transition to electrified, connected, and autonomous vehicle platforms.

Prior to joining CAR, Ms. Krear served as Vice President of the Electric Vehicle Practice at J.D. Power, where she led efforts to leverage data and insights that supported clients in optimizing business performance during the shift to electrified product portfolios.

Before J.D. Power, she was a Global Planning Program Vice President at Stellantis for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and electrified body-on-frame SUVs and trucks, focusing on platform strategies that integrated electrification, autonomy, and connectivity. Earlier in her career, she served as Chief Engineer for the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator SUV vehicles, as well as the Ram 1500 Light Duty Truck portfolio.

Her extensive automotive background includes leadership roles in vehicle quality, program management, manufacturing, powertrain synthesis, and interior engineering. In 2020, Automotive News named her one of the “Top 100 Women in the North American Auto Industry,” recognizing her industry impact and leadership.

Ms. Krear holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Michigan State University Executive MBA Program.

Badar Khan has served as the Chief Executive Officer of EVgo since November 2023, and as a member of EVgo’s board of directors since May 2022. Mr. Khan brings over 25 years of experience in the energy sector and has a track record of driving innovation and leveraging technology to transform the ways individuals and businesses engage with and use energy.

Prior to joining EVgo, Mr. Khan served as a Senior Advisor with Global Infrastructure Partners, a leading independent infrastructure fund manager. From 2017 to 2022 Mr. Khan worked with National Grid, one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the world, most recently as President of National Grid USA. In this role he oversaw the provision of electricity, natural gas and clean energy solutions to over 20 million people across Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island with 17,000 employees. During his time at National Grid, Mr. Khan oversaw the regulatory approval for one of the largest “make ready” electric vehicle infrastructure programs for utilities in the U.S., the acquisition of an onshore solar and wind renewables development company, and the launch of one of the largest utility corporate venture capital funds in the U.S., with over 40 investments and partnerships in the energy and clean tech space.

Mr. Khan previously worked at Centrica plc for 14 years in the U.S. and U.K., including from 2013 to 2017 as Chief Executive Officer of Direct Energy, the North American subsidiary that provided electricity, natural gas and home services to over five million customers with 6,000 employees. Under his leadership, Direct Energy experienced significant growth reaching revenue of more than $15 billion USD and becoming one of the largest and most innovative retail energy and services companies in North America through multiple acquisitions and more than a dozen partnerships with large and small technology companies. Prior to that, he was an officer of a start-up private retail energy company in the US and worked in management consulting with Deloitte Consulting in Boston and KPMG London. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of CRH plc, a leading building materials business, and on the advisory board of Zero Infinity Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm. Mr. Khan began his career with Jaguar Cars in the U.K.

Mr. Khan has a degree in engineering from Brunel University in London and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

John Murphy has built his career analyzing the global automotive industry and advising manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and investors. His deep background in equity research and capital markets enables him to provide clients with unbiased – and now fully independent – strategic advice across the value chain.

John spent more than 26 years as the senior North American automotive equity research analyst at Bank of America (previously Merrill Lynch), beginning his coverage in 1999. He played an integral role in advising investors during the landmark IPOs of General Motors, Rivian, Ferrari, and Delphi, alongside many other major capital raises, and provided strategic counsel to boards and management teams across the value chain.

Key pillars of his research portfolio included Car Wars, a benchmark for OEM product pipeline competitiveness; The Dealer Manual, a comprehensive review of the dealer channel; and Who Makes the Car, an in-depth analysis of parts systems and electrification.

John also founded and hosted Bank of America’s annual New York Auto Summit for 17 years, bringing together investors and executives to foster strategic discussions on capital allocation and industry direction. He is frequently cited across the financial and automotive press, appearing on CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and Yahoo Finance, and is a regular presenter at industry events around the world.

Bob Nelson is the executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) with responsibility for overseeing all AHM business operations, including U.S. sales and marketing activities and various support functions for the entire North American region, including Regional Planning, Corporate Affairs, IT Planning & Operations, Finance, Human Resources and Administration.

Nelson began his career at Honda in 1987 as a purchasing staff member in the production procurement group at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant, in Marysville, Ohio, at a time when Honda was rapidly expanding its purchasing of parts and materials from suppliers in North America.

From 1990 to 1996, he worked in various procurement departments including the raw materials group, cost research group and electrical & component procurement group. While on a three-year assignment in Tochigi, Japan, Nelson managed a liaison function supporting Honda manufacturing in North America. Upon his return to the U.S., he worked within several purchasing planning functions.

As a leader in the North American Purchasing Division, Nelson helped develop and implement a number of initiatives to strengthen Honda’s supply base. This included developing the sourcing strategy for the launch of the Alabama Auto Plant in 2001.

In April 2011, Nelson became vice president and served as part of the leadership team at Honda’s auto plant in Greensburg, Indiana. The following year, in April 2012, he was promoted to senior vice president.

In April 2013, Nelson became president of the Indiana Auto Plant, where he was responsible for the company’s operations and leadership of 2,400 associates, during a period of growth when the plant increased its production responsibility from one to three models.

In April 2018, Nelson returned to Ohio in a senior leadership role as general manager of the company’s Planning and Strategy Division, which included establishing business strategies for the North American manufacturing and business operations. In addition, he was a leader of Honda’s auto manufacturing and engineering functions in North America.

In January 2019, Nelson was named executive vice president in charge of operations for all auto manufacturing plants in Ohio.

In April 2021, with the establishment of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC (HDMA), Nelson’s role expanded to lead the new Manufacturing Management Center, with responsibility to improve the manufacturing constitution and production characteristics for all of Honda’s U.S. auto manufacturing facilities related to frame, engine and transmission production, along with related engineering and purchasing operations. He also took on responsibility to lead the Planning & Strategy, North American Quality, Accounting and Human Resources business units.

In October 2022, Nelson became executive vice president of Corporate Services of AHM, overseeing support functions for the North American region, including Regional Planning, Corporate Affairs, IT Planning & Operations, Finance, Human Resources and Administration.

In April 2024, Nelson took on additional responsibilities in his position as executive vice president of AHM.

Nelson also serves as co-chair of the Honda Executive Diversity Steering Committee, helping to guide the company toward greater inclusion and diversity across its North American operations.

In addition to his role at AHM, Nelson served as the 2023 board chair of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. Nelson also is on the board of directors of the organization.

Nelson is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in procurement and materials management, and production and operations management.

Adam Raviv co-leads the Automotive and Mobility practice at Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, DC and focuses on regulatory matters and dispute resolution. Having served in a variety of senior political appointments in government, including as chief counsel of the primary federal regulator of the U.S. auto industry, he can leverage his experience to represent clients in matters involving automotive safety and fuel economy, including enforcement, litigation, compliance, and the federal rulemaking process. Adam also has extensive experience in international arbitration and commercial and regulatory litigation. In addition, he represents and advises clients on the nomination and appointment process and advises both corporate and individual clients on government ethics and attorney professional responsibility issues.

Before joining Sidley, Adam served as chief counsel at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In that role, he led the 45-member legal department and was the second-ranking official at the 800-employee agency, an operating administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Before joining NHTSA, Adam served as senior counsel in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice and as senior ethics counsel in the White House.

Adam taught an annual course in international arbitration as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. He clerked for The Honorable Stanley Marcus on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Adam has published widely in a variety of professional areas, and his writing has won awards and been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. Adam is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School, the University of Auckland, and Yale University.

Alex Roy is a General Partner at New Industry VC, and co-founder of the Autonocast, The Drive, and the Narrative Command Company. Roy has set 12 Cannonball Run endurance driving records, and was an executive at self-driving startup Argo AI for four years. He is also author of The Driver, producer of APEX: The Secret Race Across America, and Chairman Emeritus of The Moth storytelling series.

Paul Thomas serves as president and CEO of Bosch in North America and president of Bosch Mobility for the Americas region.

Since assuming the role as president and CEO of Bosch in North America in September 2024, Mr. Thomas has spearheaded the company’s strategic direction across North America, a region that achieved $18.8 billion sales to third parties in 2025. Under his leadership, Bosch is poised for significant growth, with a stated ambition to have North America account for 20 percent of the company’s global sales by 2030, predominantly driven by the U.S. market. Mr. Thomas oversees the region across all four of the company’s business sectors – Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology – to guide the company’s growth in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada and enable operational excellence.

Since January 2024 Mr. Thomas has held the position of president of Bosch Mobility for the Americas region. In this role, he leads technology, strategy and sales development for the Bosch mobility sector in North and South America, a key market for the company.

Mr. Thomas has more than 25 years of mobility experience and has held senior leadership positions in the areas of sales, production control, logistics, manufacturing and business unit management. His global leadership experience while at Bosch includes several years abroad in Germany, as well as responsibilities in the areas of global product development and global commercial sales.

An active industry advocate, Mr. Thomas is a member of the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers Board and has previously served on the advisory board for PlanetM, the state of Michigan’s mobility incubator.

Mr. Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and an MBA from Wayne State University, as well as an immersive executive management program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Daniel (Dan) Patrick Wendt focuses his practice on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other financial laws, United States trade laws, corporate investigations, and compliance program design and implementation, including third-party due diligence reviews, and M&A-related due diligence reviews, and integration efforts.

His clientele spans public and private companies, both nationally and internationally, across many industries, including automotive and transportation, telecommunications, software/digital services, consumer products, financial services, food products, forestry and agriculture, gaming, insurance, oil and gas, and renewable energy.

In his work, Dan represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other branches of the Department of Homeland Security, and other regulators in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, including multilateral development banks. He also represents clients in the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Dan’s expertise has brought him to nearly 30 countries and regions across the globe as he led investigations, audits, risk assessments, due diligence interviews, and trainings.

A respected speaker in the industry, Dan regularly presents for the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, specifically at its annual Compliance and Ethics Institutes in the United States and Europe. He’s also been active for the American Bar Association’s International Law Section as well as previously participating as a member of Law360’s Compliance Editorial Advisory Board.

Will Yavinsky focuses his corporate practice on U.S. and international business transactions. He represents strategic companies, financial sponsors, and other investors on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, and strategic alliances. He particularly enjoys assisting clients on cross-border and domestic transactions involving new markets, technologies and deal structures to achieve their business objectives.

Will is Co-Head of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader’s global Automotive and Mobility sector, which is consistently recognized for excellence including as the only firm ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA in the Transportation: Road (Automotive) category since its inception.