ChargePoint has appointed John Saffrett as executive vice president and managing director for Europe, bringing in an executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the automotive, fleet management and financial services industries. Saffrett has served on the company’s Advisory Council since March 2026 and will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Rick Wilmer. In the role, he takes responsibility for sales, customer relationships, partnerships and market expansion across European markets. ChargePoint says the appointment reflects a push to increase its European market and revenue share.
Highlights
- Saffrett reports directly to CEO Rick Wilmer and has been a ChargePoint Advisory Council member since March 2026.
- He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning automotive, fleet management and financial services.
- Most recently Global Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Ayvens, where he helped integrate two large fleet management companies into a single entity operating in more than 40 countries.
- ChargePoint says its network connects drivers to more than 1.4 million charging ports worldwide.
A Fleet Management Background Moves Into Charging
Saffrett arrives from Ayvens, where he served as Global Deputy Chief Executive Officer and, according to ChargePoint, played a central role in combining two of the world’s largest fleet management companies into one organization spanning more than 40 countries. Before that he held successive leadership roles at ALD Automotive as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administration Officer, with oversight of sales, marketing, product development, innovation and technology. Earlier in his career he spent close to a decade in senior IT and transformation roles.
That profile — fleet operations, large-scale integration, digital transformation — maps onto the customer segments ChargePoint has emphasized in Europe, where commercial fleets and business customers account for a substantial share of charging demand.
What ChargePoint Says About the Appointment
Wilmer framed the hire around the company’s regional ambitions and Saffrett’s existing familiarity with the business.
“Europe is at the center of our growth ambitions, and John is the ideal leader to accelerate our momentum in this critical region,” said Rick Wilmer, Chief Executive Officer of ChargePoint. “His deep experience in fleet management, digital transformation, and large-scale operations combined with his existing knowledge of ChargePoint as an Advisory Council member positions him to hit the ground running. We are thrilled to welcome John to the leadership team.”
Saffrett pointed to his prior advisory work with the company.
“I am excited to take on this role at such a pivotal time for both ChargePoint and the European EV market,” said John Saffrett, EVP and MD, Europe at ChargePoint. “Having worked closely with the ChargePoint team as an advisor, I have seen firsthand the strength of the company’s people, technology, and platform.”
He added that he was “excited to be working with the team to help define what intelligent electrification means for our customers – Europe’s fleets, businesses, and drivers – and being a responsible leader in driving the electric transition in Europe.”
Recent European Activity
The company says it continues to invest in its European operations, and points to Europe’s shifting regulatory environment as a driver of demand for scalable charging infrastructure across the continent. Recent moves include the launch of the Express Solo DC charger, the first product on ChargePoint’s Express architecture and its first DC system sold in both North America and Europe, along with OEM partnerships including Mercedes-Benz and Ford Pro.
ChargePoint, founded in 2007, says it has facilitated more than 21 billion electric miles across its network.
