CODA Automotive Taps Public Affairs and Communications Veteran K. Forrest Beanum to Spearhead Global Strategy

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- CODA Automotive, a California-based electric car and battery company, hired K. Forrest Beanum as Vice President of Public Affairs & Communications. A cross-functional executive with experience engaging international and domestic elected officials and opinion leaders, Beanum will design and orchestrate CODA's global public affairs and public relations activities as the company prepares to launch an all-electric sedan in California.

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"CODA is a transformational product that represents a movement to address the dire consequences of oil dependence and environmental degradation," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, CODA Automotive. "We are confident that Forrest will help CODA generate awareness and galvanize the political support necessary to accelerate the adoption of all-electric cars."  

Convening with the White House, state/local government officials, agencies and opinion leaders in Washington D.C., Sacramento and Los Angeles is one of Beanum's primary responsibilities. As part of its plan to secure America's energy independence, improve economic conditions and create green jobs, the Department of Energy has created strong incentives to encourage the development of automotive battery manufacturing technology. This month, CODA announced its intent to establish battery manufacturing capacity in the U.S. With the support of agency partners, Beanum will lead CODA's engagement with the Department of Energy and other governmental bodies supportive of electric vehicles related to this and other initiatives.

"The conversation about green technology and the electrification movement is a convergence of government officials, business leaders and consumers," said Beanum. "I look forward to bringing these groups together to usher-in a new technology that reduces our dependence on oil while strengthening the American economy during this critical time."

Prior to joining CODA, Beanum worked in the capacity of Vice President of Communications and Investor Relations at CityView, a $745M national real estate investor with projects across 13 U.S. states representing more than $2 billion in transactions. At CityView, Beanum advised the firm's partner while designing the firm's national branding, public relations and investor relations strategies. Beanum also served as National Press Secretary for the firm's Executive Chairman, former Mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry G. Cisneros.

Prior to CityView, Beanum headed the public relations division at Los Angeles public affairs firm Cerrell Associates, Inc. In this position, Beanum provided media relations and public affairs counsel to a diverse client base. His assignments included advocacy work within the environmental, entertainment, financial services, local government and healthcare arenas. An experienced publicist and speechwriter, Beanum has worked on projects with U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Mexican President Vicente Fox and a long list of U.S. politicians.

Earlier in his career, Beanum worked for highly reputable agencies including Schwartz Communications, ExcitePR and The Loomis Group. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Public Policy and Mass Communication at Pomona College, Beanum completed two masters-level fellowships including The Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs and the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship of Public Policy and International Affairs at the Graduate School of Public Policy at University of California, Berkeley.

About CODA Automotive:  Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., CODA Automotive is working to reduce dependence on oil and leading the way to a cleaner future by building 100% electric cars and transportation battery systems. CODA Automotive is working in a smart, interdependent way with a number of leading global technology and manufacturing companies to quickly and efficiently bring electric drive technology to market and jump start the electric car movement. Through its exclusive transportation and electric utility storage battery joint venture with Lishen Power Battery, CODA Automotive is also a leading designer and large-scale manufacturer of power battery systems. The American engineered CODA electric car will be available to consumers in 2010. 

SOURCE CODA Automotive