Continental Battery Systems, a leading North American distributor of aftermarket batteries serving automotive, commercial and specialty markets, announced the appointment of Nick Townsend as chief financial officer.
In his new role, Townsend will lead the company’s finance organization and capital allocation to support Continental Battery Systems’ growth priorities and strengthen financial discipline across the business. He will also help guide investments in supply chain, inventory management and battery recycling capabilities across the company’s national network.
“Nick is an exceptional financial leader with a proven track record of steering complex strategies across the industrial and energy sectors,” said Mike Harris, CEO of Continental Battery Systems. “As we optimize our national footprint and double down on operational excellence, Nick’s expertise will be pivotal in driving disciplined growth and creating long-term value for our customers.”
Townsend brings more than 20 years of finance leadership experience across global industrial, energy and battery companies, including GE, Chevron and Ecobat, one of the world’s largest lead battery recyclers. Throughout his career, he has led finance through complex transactions, integrations and operational transformations across public and private equity-backed organizations. Most recently, he served as CFO of KMM, a telecom infrastructure and logistics company, where he led finance, legal, IT and HR.
“Having spent much of my career within the industrial and energy sectors, I have long appreciated Continental Battery Systems’ strong history and market leadership,” said Townsend. “The opportunity to leverage my background in financial transformation and battery supply chains to support Continental’s next phase of growth is incredibly compelling. I am thrilled to join the team and help accelerate our strategic objectives.”
Townsend’s appointment comes as CBS drives growth across automotive, commercial heavy-duty and select deep-cycle markets, including golf. To support these growth initiatives, CBS is making targeted investments to enhance inventory availability, delivery service and the customer experience. These efforts will strengthen our position in local markets, and also support growth with large, multi-location customers looking for a higher standard of service, reinforcing the company’s Count on Continental commitment to delivering the reliability customers need to keep their businesses moving.
