2023 World Car Awards Administration

The World Car Awards are administered by a not-for-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee as well as a group of individual advisors as follows:

	JENS MEINERS  Chair, 2023 World Car Awards GERMANY
	Based in Germany and the USA, Meiners contributes to Car and Driver, Automotive News, Welt, Automobile Industrie, Car Design News, China Auto Pictorial and various other outlets
	Based in Germany and the USA, Jens Meiners works as editor-in-chief of auto-medienportal.net, contributes to Car and Driver, Focus, Automobil Industrie, Car Design News and various other international outlets. He has covered the automotive industry since 1996 and began his career as editor of the buyer's guide Autosalon. He subsequently was Managing Editor of Automotive Business International and staff reporter for Automotive News Europe; in 2010, he co-founded an automotive news agency. He has served on the World Car Awards Steering Committee for over a decade and he co-initiated the German GCOTY and the Chinese C-COTY program. Meiners splits his time between Northern Bavaria and New York City. His collection of cars includes several prototypes and sports cars.
	SIDDHARTH VINAYAK PATANKAR  Vice-chair, 2023 World Car Awards INDIA
	Vice Chair, World Car Awards Editor-in-Chief, Acko Drive Former Editor-in-Chief, carandbike; and Consulting Editor-Auto, NDTV Group
	Siddharth is one of the most well-known faces on Indian television, as the anchor and editor of the country's most watched and longest running automobile based programme - The Car and Bike Show, on the NDTV network. Siddharth popularised the concept, and has since helped evolve a new niche of auto-based viewing and programming for Indian television. He is a well-respected name, not just as an automobile journalist, but also as a former financial correspondent who specialises in the automobile industry. He also conceived and began the annual carandbike Awards, which in its 16th year now, has fast gained the reputation of being the most non-controversial and sought-after awards for the Indian auto industry. In 2014 Siddharth helped create the digital automobile entity carandbike which now commands a massive traffic of 18 million visitors per month, and leads all digital automobile media in India on content. He routinely travels to all parts of the world to test new cars, and cover the latest in automobile design & technology. When he gets the time, he loves to cook, and try new food! Siddharth holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Studies from the prestigious Pune University. He has also studied in Australia and the United States. He has represented India on the World Car jury since 2011 and has served as a Director - the first Asian to hold the post - since 2014. He is also now the first Asian to be Vice Chair.
	CARLOS SANDOVAL  Director, Steering Committee MEXICO
	Director on hablamosautos.com, Editor in Chief Autos & Toys - El Financiero, collaborator Sobre Ruedas - Reporte Índigo
	Car journalist by passion, industrial designer by profession, Carlos began his automotive career in Mexico writing and translating for Automóvil Panamericano, part of one of the world's largest automotive editorials, Motorpresse, based in Stuttgart. After five years specializing in publications and automotive communications, he migrated to corporate communication at Mastretta Cars, the first company to develop and manufacture a 100% Mexican sports car, the Mastretta MXT. He developed the communication strategy, events, marketing, advertising and media program. From 2012 to 2018 he worked as editorial manager for Autoexplora, the most recognized cars and lifestyle magazine in Mexico, responsible for the redesign, content structure, test drives managing, and editing. Since 2019 he edits Autos & Toys for El Financiero newspaper, writing about cars, motorcycles, technology and transportation gadgets. For over 18 years Carlos has written hundreds of test drives and research articles for magazines, web, radio, TV and books, some of them published on magazine covers in several countries. Carlos drives an average of 150 new cars every year.
	SCOTTY REISS  Director, Steering Committee UNITED STATES
	Founder, of A Girls Guide to Cars; Parents.com; Forbes Wheels; PureWow
	A career journalist and content development expert, Scotty began as a news reporter and has written for The New York Times, PureWow, Town & Country, Entrepreneur, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and Adweek, among others. She entered automotive journalism in 2013 with the mission of empowering women as buyers, owners and drivers of cars. A Girls Guide to Cars is the no. 1 automotive site for women, with content presented in women's terms and reaching more than 2 million consumers a month. Scotty is a board member of the International Motor Press Association and Women in Automotive, a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association and a World Car Awards juror and Steering Committee Director. Twitter: @ScottyReiss, @girlsguide2cars Instagram: @ScottyReiss, @agirlsguide2cars Facebook/agirlsguidetocars Linkedin @ScottyReiss, @AGirlsGuidetoCars
	YOSHIHIRO KIMURA  Director, Steering Committee INTERNATIONAL
	Germany-based contributor to Auto Motor und Sport, Frankfurter Allgemaine Zeitung newspaper, Japan's Motor Magazine, Car Top, Le Volant, Car View)
	Based in Germany for over 30 years, Japanese journalist Yoshihiro Kimura is one of the industry's most influential personalities. A graduate of Tokyo's St. Paul University and the Academy or Art College in Stuttgart, German-speaking Kimura contributes to Auto Motor und Sport and the Frankfurter Allgemaine Zeitung newspaper, in addition to Japan's Motor Magazine, Le Volant, Car Top, Car View, Best Car He also works as a much sought-after translator for BMW's Fascination magazine and Freude am Fahren, as well as Maybach History.
	GERRY MALLOY  President - World Car Awards CANADA
	Contributor: Autofile.ca, Canadian auto dealer magazine
	Gerry Malloy has been an automotive journalist for more than 30 years. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and, before turning to journalism, spent more than 20 years as an automotive test-and-development engineer, both within a major automaker and as proprietor of an independent engineering business whose clientele comprised most of the world’s major automakers. He is a three-time winner of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) Automotive Journalist of the Year award, and the recipient of multiple other awards for automotive writing.
	RICHARD AUCOCK  Director, Steering Committee ENGLAND
	Director, Motoring Research. Chairman, Guild of Motoring Writers
	Richard is Director at Motoring Research, a multi-format editorial agency servicing clients such as Microsoft, City A.M. and the RAC. He joined in 2001 and has seen the business grow to now publish content in more than 40 markets. Richard studied Mechanical Engineering at University but always had one eye on being a motoring writer, particularly after winning the Guild of Motoring Writers' Sir William Lyons breakthrough award in 1998. Scooping this helped him grab his first major writing job, as a club reporter for Autosport magazine. Joining the Guild Committee in 2006, Richard served as Chairman from 2012-2014 before returning to the Chair in 2018. He's also won several Guild Awards over the years, including the Young Writer of the Year trophy in 2005. Richard races cars, runs half-marathons, rides motorcycles, buys old cars and enjoys riding long-distance cycling events. He remains fascinated by and committed to both the automotive and publishing industries.
	RYAN BLAIR  Director of Operations - World Car Awards CANADA
	Ryan Blair began his IT consulting career in 1997, opening IntraNext Consulting which specializes in the development and integration of database systems for on-line and mobile applications. Ryan helped create the initial World Car Awards voting process, and continues to enhance the digital tools to simplify and streamline the entire voting process for the WCA jurors. For over 15 years Ryan has also worked with the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) to manage their IT requirements, and more specifically, manage the data, controls, and processes for their Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) program.
	BETH RHIND  Co-founder and Executive Director - World Car Awards CANADA
	Beth Rhind enjoys a career focused on public/media relations and event management. Ms Rhind was the media director at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto for 18 years. In addition to her media duties, she also organized an annual World Design Forum for six years featuring some of the industry's top designers (Anne Asensio, Chris Bangle, Moray Callum, Ralph Gilles, Peter Horbury, Tom Matano, Ken Okuyama, Shiro Nakamura and Adrian van Hooydonk to name a few). In addition, the annual "World Automotive Design Competition," which she created and organized, was a show highlight for five years. The competition is responsible for launching the careers of many young aspiring automotive designers. Judges were Robert Cumberford, Paul Deutschman, Akira Fujimoto, Ken Gross, Peter Horbury and Tom Matano. Over the same period, she was also the manager of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) including all its related events and activities for 24 years.
ADVISORS
	CHRISTIAN BRINKMANN  Advisor GERMANY
	Founder and EIC: Speed Heads
	Christian Brinkmann founded Speed Heads in 2003, one of Germany's first automotive online magazines. Since that time Brinkmann has been covering with his team the automotive industry and has been engaged in countless road tests. He is a well respected motoring journalist and interviewed notable industry leaders. He also received recognition for his car reviews on YouTube.
	GUILHERME COSTA  Advisor PORTUGAL
	Director at Razão Automóvel
	Born in Grândola (Portugal), Guilherme studied law and business administration. In 2012, he founded Razão Automóvel. Razao Automovel is website specialized in the automotive sector. Today, Razao Automovel is one of most viewed Portuguese web magazines, with more than 1 000 000 unique visitors per month, leading the sector in the social networks. Guilherme rides motorcycles and, when he can find the time, loves to repair classic cars.
	THOMAS GEIGER  Advisor GERMANY
	Contributor: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Auto-Zeitung, Auto-Bild, AutoExpress, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Der Spiegel online, Der Tagesanzeiger, Zuerich, www.Autonet.at, SP-X
	For more then 30 years, Geiger is kept busy with regular road tests, press launches. In addition to his new car reviews, he also writes about design, new technologies, sustainable mobility, classics, tuning, collectors, inventors and customer service amongst other topics.
	RENUKA KIRPALANI  Advisor INDIA
	Executive Editor Video content - Auto - Haymarket India Editor - Autocarshow - Times Network Auto correspondent - Sindhian, Auto contributor - Mint Lounge
	Renuka Kirpalani has been a known face in the Indian automotive world for a long time. She grew up helping her father build racing cars and restore vintage and classics. Renuka has also raced and rallied herself collecting many trophies along the way, until she gave up competing when she had her first child. Today she is the Editor and Anchor of the most watched automobile show on Indian television that runs on the Times Network. She is also the head of all automotive video content for the Haymarket Group in India and has made the Autocar India the most popular Indian automobile channel on Youtube. Renuka has a large fan base amongst auto enthusiasts as can be seen by her substantial following on social media.
	JASON STEIN  Advisor UNITED STATES
	Host of Cars & Culture with Jason Stein, SiriusXM Channel 132
	Currently, Jason Stein is the host of Cars & Culture on SiriusXM, Channel 132 four times per week Previously, Jason Stein directed the editorial and commercial operations for one of the world's largest automotive business-to-business media organizations: Automotive News. Mr. Stein joined Automotive News as a Detroit-based reporter in October 2003 before transferring to Automotive News Europe's Munich, Germany, headquarters in 2005. Two years later, he was named publisher of Automotive News Europe, a responsibility that included the management of the news and commercial operations, covering 32 European countries as well as marketing, digital, audience and event activities. In 2009, Mr. Stein moved back to Detroit to oversee the editorial operations of Automotive News. In 2012 he added the responsibility of associate publisher, then publisher in 2013. In 2016, he oversaw the launch of two new media products: Automotive News Canada, a digital media outlet and a monthly print magazine; and Fixed Ops Journal, a semi-monthly print magazine focused on auto retail operations. Before joining Automotive News, Mr. Stein was an award-winning automotive columnist, news and sports writer for several North American newspapers in Ontario, Ohio and Indiana. In late 2015, Automotive News helped form the first annual Crain Communications/Michigan State University Detroit Journalism Program for aspiring journalists within the City of Detroit. He serves as a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, holds a position as a juror for the World Car of the Year Award and Ford's annual Salute to Dealers recognition program at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention. Mr. Stein holds a degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada.
	TIM STEVENS  Advisor UNITED STATES
	Editor-in-Chief for Roadshow, CNET's automotive portal
	A journalist with more than 15 years of experience, Tim Stevens is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on such topics as security, consumer technology and the latest advancements in the automotive industry. Mr. Stevens focuses on deep, immersive features telling the behind-the-scenes stories of products ranging from smart watches to muscle cars. He serves as a judge on the CEATEC Innovation Awards panel, attended the exclusive 2013 XPRIZE Visioneering Conference and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at industry events. He joined CNET in 2013 after serving as editor-in-chief of Engadget, part of the AOL/Huffington Post network, and Editorial Director of AOL's tech properties.
	MICHAEL TAYLOR  Advisor INTERNATIONAL
	Italy-based contributor to: Forbes, Forbes Wheels, carsales.com.au, motoring.com.au, Engine magazine (Japan), AutoExpress (UK), The Irish Times, Business Day (South Africa), Autologia (Mexico), The Road Rat.
	With more than two decades of experience writing about cars and the car industry, Michael Taylor's work is now published regularly in more than 20 countries. After establishing himself as one of the foremost motoring journalists in Australia, he moved to Italy in 2006. Beginning his working career on The Chronicle regional daily newspaper in Toowoomba, Australia, he progressed through The Courier-Mail in Brisbane to win awards for road tests and feature stories with the Royal Automobile Club of Australia's magazine, The Road Ahead. He rose to the position of motoring editor on The Daily Telegraph, and was editor of both 4X4 Australia and Motor magazines in their glory days. He still writes for both Australian publications like Carsales.com.au and Motor, but his work is also found prominently in Forbes and Engine Technology International. He also contributes to AutoWeek, Autoblog and Car and Driver in the US, Business Day in South Africa, Autologia in Mexico and Chile and other publications in Brazil, Argentina, China and Japan.