Clarios Names Novelis Legal Chief Chris Courts as New CLO

Event summary

  • Chris Courts appointed Chief Legal Officer at Clarios, effective March 16, 2026.
  • Courts succeeds Claudio Morfe, who will retire in July 2026 after a decade of service.
  • Courts previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Novelis.
  • Clarios operates in over 100 countries with 18,000 employees, focusing on advanced energy storage solutions.

The big picture

Clarios' appointment of Chris Courts as CLO underscores its commitment to strengthening governance and ethical standards amid a rapidly evolving energy storage landscape. Courts' background in both U.S. and European markets positions him to navigate the company's global operations, particularly as regulatory scrutiny intensifies in the automotive and energy sectors. With nearly 18,000 employees and a presence in over 100 countries, Clarios' move reflects broader industry trends toward proactive legal and compliance strategies to support sustainable growth.

What we're watching

Governance Dynamics
How Courts' experience at Novelis will shape Clarios' global legal strategy and risk management.
Regulatory Headwinds
Whether Courts' focus on modern compliance structures will mitigate regulatory risks in the energy storage sector.
Execution Risk
The pace at which Courts can integrate his approach into Clarios' existing legal and compliance frameworks.

Related topics

Automotive