Eurostars 2019

TITLE: CEO
COMPANY: Ionity
BASED: Munich, Germany 
AGE: 48
NATIONALITY: German

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Hajesch was appointed the first head of the Ionity European charging network in 2017 after five years working in electromobility at BMW Group, which is one of the owners of Ionity along with Ford, Daimler and the Volkswagen Group. His experience focusing on charging infrastructure and e-mobility for BMW’s i subbrand made him the perfect candidate for the CEO role at Ionity. Hajesch has a doctorate in industrial and manufacturing science from Cranfield University in England.

REASON FOR WINNING

In May Ionity opened the 100th of the 400 charging stations it plans to have operational by 2020. It’s an impressive result for a company that started in late 2017. It’s not easy finding locations along Europe’s key major highways but Ionity claims 95 percent of the targeted sites are now under contract. Hajesch’s previous know-how of charging has kept the firm’s aims admirably clear: Offer fast charging in accessible locations made as easy as possible with approachable design and simple payment.