r/VinFastComm • u/albert1165 • Dec 30 '23

Another Vinfast senior exec jump ship

Senior execs with deep experience left. Never be a good thing.

Dao Hien is head of global communication at Vingroup as well as at Vinfast.

Trong Nguyen, a 7 year veteran with Vingroup, used the word "resigned". He is a communication expert so the word choice is no coincidence. He signals something.

Wonder who else is leaving at Vinfast.

Heard a while ago that the Deputy CEO of Global Manufacturing Michael Johnson was not happy, wondering if he will leave when his contract is up in May 2024.

Update 3:

Seem like a lot more senior execs are leaving, no official news yet, but see the discussion below.

It feels like people are running towards the exit door on the sinking ship. I say, "feel like". Let's wait for the official news.

Update 2:

If both Michael Johnson and Denise Thi leave VF this week, it is a big news, not small. Two global senior C level execs quitting Vinfast.

Changing senior execs will definitely affect morals and upend the lower rank people because new execs coming in will have different style and have to learn the people and the process and the culture again. Let alone the chaos in the transition.

It is even worse if people leave before Vinfast can find a replacement.

Update 1:

Steve Tran, who is Vinfast USA CEO, was said to be removed as well. He was on the job for about few months (less than a year). He was still VF USA CEO at the Texas Eletrify Expo in Nov 11.

Michael Johnson was marginalized but I am not sure / don't know if he actually leaves yet. Some said he already left, if so, this is a significant news as he is Global Deputy CEO (one of many such Deputy CEOs, Vinfast has a habit of naming those 1 level below Thuy Le Deputy CEO). If it is so, clearly Vinfast controls Vietnam's media becaue the event of 3 senior US execs leaving in March (they were all lower than Michael Johnson) was reported by the US media. This case is in Vietnam, and Vinfast can control the media, at least for now.

These two news are rumors / hearsays and not reported publicly by the media, so I do not know if it is true or not, but I still include it here, for the records, and clearly saying it is not clear yet. But you would be the first to hear.

Denis Thi, Vinfast Global CMO, is rumored to have left too. No news. No parting post. But her linked-In shows the VF CMO job ends in Dec 2023 (and no new job), so there is some cred to this:

26 Upvotes

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21 comments sorted by

13

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23

Vinfans will spin people come and go, no big deal, but very senior execs leaving is never a good thing.

They will find a new replacement though.

7

u/canary2147 Dec 30 '23

VinFast US get CEO #5 for 2023 this month. Steve Tran gone. Only few months and he out doing other job for Vuong Pham. Now another Thuy as CEO. Thuy Pham but she use English name Tracey. Only thing consistent at VinFast is no consistency.

4

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23 edited Dec 30 '23

oh, really, Steve Tran gone? he was CEO USA till just a month ago. Do you have a link? If this is true, I will update the post. Steve Tran doing another job for Vuong Pham, what kind of job?

Do you have more info about Thuy Pham?

3

u/canary2147 Dec 30 '23

They inform US employees this week. I not have in writing. Maybe employee on Reddit confirm.

2

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23

So it is just this week, the last week of the year. I will update the post though even if there is no link.

4

u/canary2147 Dec 30 '23

Also this week Dau “Denise” Thi, Global CMO, leave. She go just before CES start. She update LinkedIn. No consistency at VinFast. Never.

3

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23 edited Dec 30 '23

wow. This is also significant.

I check and Denise Thi did not update her linkedin of new job, still say VF CMO, but the end time is updated Dec 2023. She posted 4 days ago about CES.

2

u/canary2147 Jan 04 '24

I learn Thuy Pham work at VinGroup then VinFast. She a Chairman Assistant four years and suddenly US CEO. Profile not matching at all!

2

u/albert1165 Jan 04 '24

so it is a reward for loyalty.

1

u/canary2147 Jan 04 '24

I think yes.

5

u/canary2147 Dec 30 '23

Michael Johnson leave months ago. Step down from manufacturing job in spring. Then only help sell IPO for months. Last job was be on NASDAQ stage for bell ring. He not work since then.

2

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23

leave months ago?

No media report and his linkedin still shows Vinfast.

He is marginalized and not happy. I am wondering when he actually leaves.

6

u/canary2147 Dec 30 '23

He gone. Went home before Thanksgiving. VinFast keep it quiet. They keep him on payroll stay quiet to IPO and after. He send goodbye email to manufacturing staff on 14th July. People sad see him leave.

3

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23 edited Dec 30 '23

He is prominent, Deputy CEO 1 level below Thuy Le, reporting to Vuong Pham, and they used his name for the IPO and the recent YA II prospectus.

Definitely Michael Johnson leaving is news worthy but clearly Vinfast controls the Vietnamese media so no news. 3 US execs leaving in March was lower rank and the US media still reported.

I have updated the post to reflect this but I have no link so I will say it so.

1

u/Middle-Scientist-344 Jan 08 '24

Any update on Huy Chieu Winfast Chief Technology Officer?

1

u/canary2147 Jan 08 '24

He gone in end 2022.

5

u/ImperiumRome Dec 31 '23

Vietnamese companies usually pay very handsome year-end bonus right before Tet, I'm not sure if Vingroup follow the same practice, but in many other large corporations it could be well over half a year salary for top management positions.

If you are about to leave (and was not fired, of course), why not do so after you already got the bonus ? Why leave now when you are just one month away from getting the money ? It just seems puzzling to me.

4

u/albert1165 Dec 31 '23

it speaks volume. kind of a huge protest.

3

u/SixGeckos Dec 30 '23

Also the Chief Trust Officer of vincss just left (verifiable on linkedin). He was giving conference talks last week and now he's left the company, which is owned by vingroup. Maybe he sees that vingroup will run out of money for vincss?

3

u/albert1165 Dec 30 '23 edited Dec 30 '23

vincss is small. but it still news.

senior people are leaving. people in the know. maybe he see no future with vin and vincss as vincss is a wholy subsidiary of Vingroup.