Tesla manager van Tilburg becomes CEO of Ionity

Jeroen van Tilburg will become the new CEO of the fast-charging joint venture on 13 May 2024, Ionity has announced. He will succeed Michael Hajesch, who is leaving the company. In Jeroen van Tilburg, an “experienced expert is taking the helm at Ionity”, as his new employer writes. In his previous role as Head of Charging at Tesla in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), van Tilburg was successfully responsible for the growth, development and transformation of the Supercharger network.

This is exactly what he is now expected to do at Ionity. Specific reasons for the departure of the first and so far only Ionity CEO Hajesch are not mentioned in the press release. Instead, Ionity emphasises: “With his proven track record of orchestrating strategic initiatives, van Tilburg is well-positioned to propel IONITY into its next phase of growth and success”.

“Jeroen van Tilburg has an impressive track record in setting up and boosting growth of charging networks. In addition, he is an expert on the European charging market who brings a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges which IONITY is facing on its growth path”, says Jörg Hofmeister, Head of Charging & Energy at Ford Model e, on behalf of the Ionity shareholders. “We look forward to working with Jeroen on the expansion of the company and the further digitalization of IONITY’s customer offering.“

Ionity praises Hajesch’s achievements

Ionity does not seem to have parted ways with its current CEO on bad terms, as Hofmeister thanks Hajesch “for his great contribution and dedication for the
company”. “He navigated IONITY through different important phases which have made the company what it is today: one of Europe’s largest independent High Power Charging networks. This includes the build-up of the IONITY team of now more than 200 people, the definition of the future IONITY strategy, the development of new products and the establishment of a strong shareholder structure. We wish Michael the best of luck and success in his future endeavours,” said the manager.

Hajesch himself also thanks the Ionity team and the shareholders for their cooperation. “I thank the IONITY team and shareholders for their trust and collaboration. It has been a privilege to grow IONITY from scratch accompanied by so many talented and dedicated colleagues, business partners and our shareholders. I am proud of our joint achievements during the last seven years and I have no doubt about the continuous growth of IONITY,” Hajesch said.

His successor van Tilburg also has his say. “I am honored and excited to assume the role of CEO at IONITY, as we enter a pivotal moment for the charging business in Europe,” says the charging expert. “Guided by our mission of enabling electric travel for everyone, we are uniquely positioned to solidify our position as a leader in the industry. Our responsibility to deliver a premium customer experience – through comprehensive coverage, resilient capacity, unparalleled reliability, and supporting all vehicle brands – has never been more critical”.

The rest of the management team at Ionity GmbH will remain unchanged: Long-time Ionity manager Markus Groll will continue to serve as COO and Torsten Kiedel, who only joined the company in February 2024, will remain CFO. It is not known where Hajesch will move to and who will succeed van Tilburg as Head of Charging in the EMEA region at Tesla.

Ionity currently operates over 600 charging parks in 24 European countries with more than 3,600 fast-charging points.

ionity.eu (PDF)