Engenie appoints James Wehner as new chief technology officer

Engenie has appointed a new chief technology officer (CTO), James Wehner, to focus on making EV charging as simple and seamless as possible for drivers.

He will be responsible for enhancing customer experience, developing and implementing new technology, systems and software that will offer drivers more personalisation and choice when charging their EV.

Wehner said: “For mass adoption of EVs to become a reality, drivers must be at the heart of the transition and by ensuring a key part of their experience – charging – is smooth and seamless, Engenie promises to accelerate that transition."

Formerly a global product director at McDonald’s, Wehner was responsible for developing and introducing McDonald’s digital self-service kiosks, growing global revenue by more than $3 billion in orders coming through the channel.

Wehner said: “The fundamentals of exceptional customer experience are the same in any sector – it’s about putting the customer in control. After close to half a decade establishing one of the world’s most recognisable customer services tools, I’m excited to apply my skills to a sector where customer experience isn’t just good for business, but instrumental in saving the planet too.”

Ian Johnstone, chief executive officer at Engenie, said: “Consumer experience has always been at the heart of everything Engenie does and by bringing James on board, we hope to bring that same revolution to EV drivers across the UK."

All Engenie's chargers are fully open and accessible, offering contactless payments. Engenie says the appointment of Wehner is a significant development in the company’s plans to enhance EV charging experience and facilitate mass EV growth in the UK, following investment from Cube in July 2019. 

Johnstone said: “Poor user experience is a major barrier to widespread EV adoption. By revolutionising the way we charge on the go, EV charging networks will play an essential role in accelerating a clean transport future.

"James has already brought a fresh approach to improving the customer experience of EV charging and has a lot of exciting new ideas in the pipeline.”