Proterra Inc. has hired Steve Waters as director of commercial sales and finance. This is the first dedicated commercial sales role for Proterra and marks the company’s increasing focus on adding commercial buyers to it growing list of transit agency customers.
With more than 25 years of sales experience in the commercial truck sector, Waters comes to Proterra from Navistar, where he held various senior leadership roles in several divisions. He also brings deep financing expertise, having served as nation marketing manager and district credit manager at Financial Corporation (Nifco). Waters will lead the charge to grow the commercial side of its business, which will target colleges and universities, airports, corporate campuses and venues such as theme parks.
Waters will also work closely with Key Equipment Finance, with whom Proterra recently launched a partnership that will allow commercial entities to finance Proterra buses. Waters will also be responsible for strategic planning, market positioning, customer acquisition/business development and operational planning for this key area.
“We have worked hard to become the established leader in EV mass transit, but commercial interest in clean, environmentally-friendly bus transportation is also at an all-time high,” said Proterra Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ian Shackleton. “With our new financing package and the addition of a highly tenured and knowledgeable commercial sales leader like Steve, Proterra is exceptionally well-positioned to expand beyond transit agencies to serve the needs of this large and growing market.”
