KONOSUKE KASHIMA

Corporate auditor, NEC Corp.

Chosen because: Kashima, as executive vice president of Japanese electronics giant NEC Corp. in 2007, helped establish Automotive Energy Supply Corp., the technology and manufacturing joint venture between NEC Corp.'s NEC Tokin subsidiary and Nissan Motor Co. The deal yielded the advanced lithium ion batteries that made Nissan's plunge into electric vehicles possible. Kashima, 65, also has helped NEC shift into other EV initiatives, including a recent electrode manufacturing venture expected to generate $1 billion a year after 2013.

Quote: "By promoting AESC's batteries for wide-scale vehicle application, NEC is doing our part for the global environment by contributing to help reduce CO2 emissions."