Press room

Kurt Østrem is the Chief Executive Officer at Zaptec, where he draws on a strong financial background and nearly a decade of experience in the company to lead its growth in electric vehicle charging solutions. Starting as CFO in 2014, Kurt has been pivotal to Zaptec’s financial strategy. Before joining Zaptec, he expanded the Norwegian retail store Europris from 20 stores to over 200, demonstrating his skill in scaling businesses. Now, he’s dedicated to making Zaptec Europe’s leading charging solution provider with an eye on sustainable innovation.

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Joris Laponder, Zaptec Benelux’s Managing Director and Zaptec’s CCO, has been a key figure in sustainable energy for over 20 years. After earning a Business Economics degree from Avans Hogeschool, Joris held numerous leadership roles at Eneco, eventually becoming CCO of Eneco eMobility. Joining Zaptec in 2022, he brings a powerful network and a commitment to expanding Zaptec’s reach and impact in the Benelux countries, aiming to build significant growth in the region.

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John Wastring is the Managing Director for Zaptec Sweden, bringing years of experience in the automotive and B2B sectors. At Bilia, Sweden’s largest car retailer, John held roles like B2B Sales Manager, shaping growth strategies and boosting sales for Volvo. His experience also includes key roles at Upplands Motor and Eniro. With a deep understanding of sales and account management, John is driving Zaptec’s growth in Sweden, focusing on collaboration and customer engagement.

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Laurent Baranyai combines his engineering roots from EPFL and an MBA with extensive management experience across the energy and tech sectors. Known for his work in electrification, energy efficiency, and building technology, Laurent has led teams and growth initiatives at renowned companies like Kone Switzerland, Fr. Sauter AG, Engie Services AG and Siemens. At Zaptec, Laurent is focused on expanding sustainable energy solutions in the Swiss market.

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Daniel Gwercher, Managing Director at Zaptec Deutschland GmbH, brings a rich sales and marketing background to the team. Beginning his career with Polaroid, he moved through roles in consumer electronics, eventually discovering his passion for sustainable mobility at Wallbox. Now, with over a decade of experience in building markets and teams, Daniel leads Zaptec Germany, working to accelerate the EV charging market with a sharp commercial mindset.

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Mette Marie Knudsen leads Zaptec Denmark with expertise in e-mobility and international sales. A Master’s graduate from the DTU in Denmark, she brings a history of supporting Denmark’s green transition. At E.ON Danmark A/S, she played a crucial role in developing the country’s public EV infrastructure. Now at Zaptec, Mette Marie drives growth through strategic partnerships and innovations in digitalization and project management, advancing Zaptec’s footprint in Denmark’s e-mobility landscape.

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Vianney Devienne, Zaptec France’s Managing Director is an accomplished leader in new market development, particularly within the EV sector. Previously Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at GRIEVE, Vianney drove the growth of this major European roaming platform with a strategic focus on partnerships across 23 countries. He also served as Sales Director at DBT, where he forged partnerships with industry giants like Nissan, EDF, and Vinci Group, which now set the foundation for Zaptec’s success in France.

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