Better Place welcomes another heavyweight to the team
Sep 8, 2011
Category: Press Release
Melbourne, Thursday 8 September 2011: Evan Thornley, CEO of Better Place Australia, today announced the appointment of David Jones to the senior management team of the Australian arm of the world’s leading electric car charge network. David is one of the nation’s most respected private equity executives and growth-company investors, and joins Better Place from CHAMP Private Equity, where he has held the role of Managing Director since 2002.
David will join the Board and senior management team of Better Place Australia as Executive Director, as the company moves out of start-up phase and prepares for rapid scaling and growth.
“David Jones has a long pedigree of identifying the most high-value opportunities in the country and working to achieve their greatest potential. As Better Place moves from planning to deployment and scaling on an accelerated timeline, David’s breadth of experience from CHAMP and prior investee companies like Austar will be invaluable”, said Evan Thornley, CEO of Better Place Australia.
“David joins a team of nationally recognised leaders who have moved from their individual industries to join the most exciting infrastructure project in the country. This team has the breadth and depth of expertise in automotive, electricity markets, network deployment, high tech, consumer markets and corporate finance to build this significant component of green infrastructure which is essential for the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
“We have known and respected the CHAMP organisation for a long time, and we are delighted that David has chosen to join Better Place as the next logical step in his career focused on profit with a purpose”, Evan Thornley said.
David Jones, Executive Director of Better Place Australia said “I am proud to have been part of CHAMP for nine years, and everything we have achieved. My experience at CHAMP has reinforced to me the value of working for an organisation you believe in, and as such I am delighted to be joining Better Place. The appeal of Better Place is that the business model is as compelling as the purpose behind it. It is exhilarating to be able to contribute to one of the most significant economic transformations via the leading global company in this vital sector”, David Jones said.
Bill Ferris, CHAMP Executive Chairman said, “David has made a significant contribution not only to CHAMP but also to the wider private equity industry, particularly during his recent chairmanship of AVCAL. CHAMP has successfully worked with Evan on a number of ventures including LookSmart and the acquisition of ABC Learning (now GoodStart) so we know David is off to a terrific new enterprise. We wish David and Better Place every success in establishing this important infrastructure for Australia.”
The appointment is another significant milestone for Better Place as it moves towards commercial launch in 2012. This year the company has secured its first renewable power purchase agreement worth $60m with ActewAGL; partnered with Renault Australia to bring the Fluence ZE into Australia from next year; announced with GE at the Australian International Motor Show the purchase of at least 1000 EVs for their fleet by 2015; announced the early deployment of its network in Canberra; and released details of the 12 Foundation Member organisations who will support its rollout in the Canberra region.