Pham Nhat Quan Anh, 33, will take charge of VinFast’s global operations as the Vietnamese electric vehicle maker seeks to reduce capital requirements and expand in markets including Southeast Asia and India.
Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has appointed chairman Pham Nhat Quan Anh, the eldest son of founder Pham Nhat Vuong, as its global chief executive officer as the loss-making automaker prepares for a corporate restructuring and renewed overseas expansion.
Anh, 33, who was appointed global chairman in May, will also serve as chairman and CEO of VinFast Vietnam. The leadership change comes as the company seeks to adopt a more asset-light business model and strengthen its presence in key markets, including Southeast Asia and India.
VinFast said Anh would assume “ultimate and comprehensive responsibility” for the company’s operations as it enters a new phase of growth. He succeeds his father as chief executive, while Pham Nhat Vuong will continue to serve on VinFast’s board.
The appointment marks another major leadership transition for VinFast. Anh becomes the company’s fifth chief executive, following executives including former General Motors executive James DeLuca, former Opel chief Michael Lohscheller and Le Thi Thu Thuy, who led VinFast through its Nasdaq listing.
VinFast restructuring plan
The leadership change comes against the backdrop of a restructuring plan unveiled by VinFast in May. Under the plan, manufacturing assets worth about $530 million would be transferred to a purchaser group that would also assume around $6.9 billion in debt.
More from BusinessThe restructuring is aimed at reducing VinFast’s future capital requirements as the company attempts to build a more sustainable business model. However, the complexity of the proposed transaction and the involvement of investors linked to Vingroup and Vuong have raised concerns among some analysts and shareholders.
VinFast, which is owned by Vuong’s Vingroup conglomerate, Vietnam’s biggest conglomerate, has continued to receive financial support from its founder. While the company reported a nearly 42 per cent increase in first-quarter revenue, its net loss widened during the period.
India among key overseas markets
India is emerging as one of the markets central to VinFast’s international strategy. The company is seeking growth across Southeast Asia and India as it looks to expand its global footprint while restructuring its operations.
Anh brings experience from several senior positions at VinFast and other Vingroup companies. He is a graduate of Singapore Management University and will also continue to serve as chief executive of VinMetal, a steel producer within the Vingroup group.
The leadership transition also extends to VinFast-linked taxi company GSM. On Saturday, Vuong’s second son, Pham Nhat Minh Hoang, was appointed global CEO of GSM, while Nguyen Quoc Tuan was named global chairman.
GSM is planning a Hong Kong listing in 2028 and aims to purchase around 1 million electric vehicles and 4 million e-scooters from VinFast between 2026 and 2030, further tying the group’s growth strategy to the expansion of its electric mobility ecosystem.
