Basingstoke: InstaVolt appoints CEO and becomes UK’s largest rapid car charging network
Electric vehicle charging specialist InstaVolt, headquartered in Basingstoke, has appointed Adrian Keen as chief executive officer.
His appointment follows closely on the heels of two important milestones for the business.
InstaVolt has begun construction of its 400th rapid charger, making it the UK’s largest owner-operated network of rapid electric vehicle chargers in the UK.
And the company is starting to install new ChargePoint Express 250 high-powered chargers, capable of up to 125kW charging. These have the potential to halve charging time for drivers and can add 125 miles of range in just 15 minutes subject to the EV’s compatibility.
As chief financial officer, Adrian Keen has been with InstaVolt for more than two years where he worked closely with the senior management team overseeing all financial operations of the company. Stepping up to the role of CEO, Keen will be responsible for driving the company’s growth and strategic direction.
Adrian Pike, InstaVolt’s chairman and co-founder, said: “Adrian Keen’s appointment is a cornerstone of our succession planning and underlines the board’s commitment to building the best leadership team in the industry. Adrian and I have worked together for many years and he has significant experience in the renewable sector. I would also like to pay tribute to the out-going CEO and co-founder Tim Payne who played a crucial role in driving forward the Instavolt vision. We wish Tim well in his retirement.”
A chartered accountant, Keen joined InstaVolt with a wealth of experience in both practice and industry. This includes being the former CFO of Anesco, one of the top 100 cleantech companies in the world. During his time there, turnover grew from £21 million to over £200m, seeing Anesco ranked the fastest growing private company in the country.
Keen has also been CFO at private-equity owned international consultancy business Alpha FMC Group, and Financial Controller at P2i, a rapidly growing company operating within the field of nano-technology. His experiences also include finance roles in the logistics and education sectors, as well time spent as an auditor for KPMG.
Commenting on his appointment as CEO, Keen said: “I’m delighted to be taking up the role of CEO at this exciting time. Since our first DC rapid chargers were installed in September 2017, we have become one of the UK’s largest charging networks. With the introduction of high-power charging and our simple to use, contactless payment model, we’re giving current and prospective EV drivers access to the most reliable rapid network that is delivering ever-faster rates of charging to drivers.
“I have a strong management team behind me to deliver our strategy for growth. Taking over the role of CFO will be our current Director of Finance, Alex Vane. Alex joined the team last summer and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”
InstaVolt was the first company in the UK to launch as a ‘fully open’ tap to pay network, meaning drivers don’t need a subscription, membership or RFID card to pay.
Based in Basingstoke, InstaVolt works with local authorities, businesses and landowners across the UK to install its charging points, which deliver a financial return for those who house them.
