Jolt Capital has appointed Patrick Koller, former CEO of FORVIA, as an operating partner, adding a veteran European automotive executive to its deeptech-focused private equity platform.
Koller brings 29 years of experience in the automotive industry, having held roles at VDO, HELLA, Valeo, and FORVIA, as well as six years in the chemical sector at Rhodia, now Solvay. He has operated across France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and has held EVP and executive committee positions since 2003, spanning R&D, program management, sales, and operations.
He spent 18 years at FORVIA, becoming CEO and a board member in 2016. During his decade at the helm, the company’s sales increased from €17bn in 2015 to €27bn in 2024, representing a CAGR of 4.6%. Under his leadership, FORVIA completed 17 acquisitions, formed 12 joint ventures and executed 10 major disposals, while evolving from a traditional auto parts supplier into a sustainable technology company and the world’s seventh-largest tier-one supplier.
Koller also oversaw the acquisitions of Parrot, Coagent, Clarion and HELLA, supporting FORVIA’s expansion into a global electronics business. The company’s China sales rose from 9% of total revenue in 2015 to 23% in 2025. He was also instrumental in achieving net carbon neutrality for CO2 scopes 1 and 2 in 2025 and launched FORVIA’s foundation five years ago.
Beyond FORVIA, Koller has served on the boards of HELLA and Fondation du Collège de France, continues to sit on the board of Legrand, and has been a senior advisor to Boston Consulting Group since 2025.
At Jolt Capital, he joins an existing group of operating partners that includes former executives from NetApp, Flex, HTC, Maersk, Sofinnova, Zodiac Aerospace and PROCEPT BioRobotics, as well as the current chair of Air France-KLM.
Patrick Koller holds engineering degrees from ESSTIN, now Polytech Nancy, and business and management qualifications from Institut Français de Gestion and INSEAD. He is also a knight of the French Legion of Honor.
The announcement was made in Paris on 26 February 2026.
KEY QUOTES:
“The arrival of Patrick onboard will elevate even further our ambition to grow innovative industrial champions here in Europe, what we call rhinos at Jolt Capital. He will strongly reinforce us in his domains of expertise like mobility and materials and will also help us structure our current European industrial portfolio companies.”
Jean Schmitt, Jolt Capital
“I am excited to join a firm that combines deep technological expertise with disciplined and common-sense investment thinking. I am enthusiastic to work alongside entrepreneurs who are turning cutting-edge technology into real-world positive impact.”
Patrick Koller, Operating Partner, Jolt Capital
