ChargePoint Accelerates European Growth Strategy with Appointment of John Saffrett as EVP and Managing Director, Europe

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 1, 2026--

ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a global leader in intelligent electrification and e-mobility, today announced the appointment of John Saffrett as Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Europe. In this role, Saffrett will be responsible for driving ChargePoint's growth strategy across European markets, overseeing sales, customer relationships, partnerships, and market expansion across the continent.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260901888806/en/

He has served as a member of the company’s Advisory Council since March 2026 and is a seasoned global mobility executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the automotive, fleet management, and financial services industries. As ChargePoint’s new EVP and MD, Europe, he will report directly to CEO Rick Wilmer.

“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.”

Most recently, John Saffrett served as Global Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ayvens, where he played a central role in integrating two of the world's largest fleet management companies into a single entity operating across more than 40 countries. Prior to that, he held successive leadership roles at ALD Automotive as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administration Officer, overseeing sales, marketing, product development, innovation, and technology. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly a decade in senior IT and transformation roles.

“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. Europe's transition to electric mobility is committed and accelerating, and ChargePoint is uniquely positioned to lead that transition as a market leader in hardware, software, platforms and experience as the longest serving and one of the largest players in the world in this space. I am 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.”

The appointment underscores ChargePoint's strategic commitment to scaling its European presence. Europe's rapidly evolving regulatory landscape is creating significant demand for reliable, scalable EV charging solutions across the continent. ChargePoint continues to invest in its European operations. The company recently launched its Express Solo DC charger and announced strategic partnerships with OEMs such as Mercedes-Benz and Ford Pro.

ChargePoint and the ChargePoint logo are trademarks of ChargePoint, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names, or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

About ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.

ChargePoint has established itself as a global leader in intelligent electrification and e-mobility since its inception in 2007, long before EVs became widely available. The company provides comprehensive solutions tailored to the entire EV ecosystem, from the grid to the dashboard of the vehicle. The company serves EV drivers, charging station owners, vehicle manufacturers, and similar types of stakeholders. With a commitment to accessibility and reliability, ChargePoint’s extensive portfolio of software, hardware, and services ensures a seamless charging experience for drivers across North America and Europe. ChargePoint empowers every driver in need of charging access, connecting them to over 1.4 million charging ports worldwide. ChargePoint has facilitated the powering of more than 21 billion electric miles, underscoring its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and electrifying the future of transportation.

For further information, please visit the ChargePoint pressroom or the ChargePoint Investor Relations site. For media inquiries, contact the ChargePoint press office.

CHPT-IR

ChargePoint's EVP and Managing Director John Saffrett

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Filmmaker and drone pilot Manish Maharjan crossed into Nepal from China’s Tibet through Rasuwagadhi, a border crossing closest to where last week's catastrophic flooding began, two days before the disaster. Returning home, little did he know he would be using his professional skills to help with rescue efforts along a route he has known intimately from years of travel for work.

As authorities mobilized dozens of rescue and relief teams, Maharjan joined the Nepal Army’s rescue efforts a day after the flash floods, which have since killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands missing in Nepal and China.

Maharjan has been operating thermal drones to assist rescue teams, focused on locating and finding at least 900 workers who are still missing from 12 hydropower projects buried under mud and debris. About 500 of them are believed to be trapped inside power plant tunnels.

He said drones were effective in locating people who were stranded on hillsides and in isolated places, including caves.

“We used microphone speakers to call out to them. In some places, we even played songs and then waited for a response. That worked in a few cases and helped us locate people,” Maharjan said.

While drones have helped him rescue some stranded people in open areas, the tunnels presented an entirely different challenge, he said.

“We found tunnels were filled with mud like toothpaste in a tube,” Maharjan said. “There was no hollow or empty space inside.”

The Aug. 26 flash floods started after a glacial collapse high in the Himalayan region. Scientists who studied satellite images said bedrock underneath a glacier high in the Himalayan region had collapsed, taking part of the glacier with it. The rockfall was so extreme that it registered as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event.

The rocks and melted water then swelled the rivers in the valleys below, causing a torrent of water in Tibet and Nepal and causing widespread damage to critical infrastructure, including hydropower plants, roads, buildings and bridges in the region.

Some workers in the power plant tunnels managed to call for help when the disaster struck, and others who managed to flee reported their colleagues were still in the tunnels, according to Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association. It was unclear whether rescuers have had any contact with the trapped workers since the initial calls for help.

As time slips away, rescuers are finding it increasingly difficult to locate these missing people. Experts say the first 72 hours are critical as the chances of survival drop without access to clean water. Access to breathable air is another key to survival.

At the Rasuwagadhi hydropower project, Maharjan managed to send a drone to search deep inside and all the way to the end of the tunnel but found no sign of any life.

“We checked repeatedly but it was filled with mud and debris. Looking at it, I could only imagine the force of the flood,” he said, adding that tunnel searches were proving to be challenging because of their difficult access and the absence of any empty space.

“I can only fly drones in tunnels that are long and straight,” Maharjan said. “Once there are bends, turns or zigzags, it becomes much harder to operate and search effectively.”

__

Hussain reported from New Delhi.

This photo provided by the Nepal Army, shows Nepal army soldiers undertake rescue operation at the site of a hydropower project in Upper Trishuli, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Nepal Army via AP)