It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of our Chief Production Officer, Dr. Jan Spies, after a courageous battle with cancer. This loss is deeply heartbreaking for all of us.
Even before he officially joined as Chief Production Officer, Jan was an early member of our Scout Motors team, injecting his heart and soul into our company with a clear and ambitious vision for our future. Jan laid the foundation for our Production Center in Blythewood, creating thoughtful and meticulous plans that will guide us for years to come. He was a get-stuff-done kind of leader who embraced ambitious timelines and had an extreme drive.
Jan’s impact, however, went far beyond his credentials and
work achievements. He embodied the Scout Way from day one. Jan cared deeply for
the Scout Motors community, Richland County (of which he was a proud resident),
and most importantly, his family.
So many of us have wonderful stories and memories of Jan. A
few that stand out for me are the joy he felt representing our company in the
community and driving an original Scout vehicle home from the Blythewood Rodeo,
the excitement he felt bringing the team and our little red fire truck together
during the Fireflies holiday lights celebration. And I’ll always remember the
satisfaction and pride on his face as we locked in the historical brick at our
Production Center groundbreaking ceremony.
There are countless stories, but to really understand the
impact Jan had, you don’t have to look much further than this touching note
from Georgia Mjartan, a local resident, after her and her son’s interaction
with Jan at our Connection Center:
“Our eight-year-old son, Jozef, dreams of building cars.
He’s read every book in our local library about cars. He draws pictures of
cars. He loves making cars with Legos – new designs from his mind. So you can
imagine his awe when Dr. Jan Spies, the energized and brilliant engineer
building and overseeing Scout Motors, spent the better part of an hour with
Jozef. Dr. Spies showed him the models of the campus he designed in Blythewood,
SC where 4,000 people will work, building Scout electric vehicles. As we left,
Jozef turned to me with the biggest smile on his face and said, ‘Mom! I 100%
know what I want to do now!’ Planning the steps of his career, he asked ‘Is 14
old enough to do an internship at Scout?’”
Jan’s contributions have laid the foundation for everything
we’ve accomplished so far and everything we’ll continue to build in the future.
His legacy is part of our DNA, and we’ll carry it forward together.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of our Chief Product Officer’s passing. Our CEO, John Doe, expressed his deep sadness and shared the following message with the Scout team:
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of our beloved Chief Product Officer, Jane Smith. Jane was not only a talented and dedicated leader, but also a kind and compassionate colleague who touched the lives of everyone she worked with.
Her passion for innovation and commitment to excellence were evident in the incredible products she helped bring to life at Scout. Jane’s impact on our company and our culture will be felt for years to come.
We extend our deepest condolences to Jane’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire us all.”
Our thoughts are with Jane’s family, friends, and colleagues as we mourn the loss of a remarkable leader and friend. Rest in peace, Jane.
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