Meet our Head of Partner Development

Jade Ebenezer’s career in mobility has spanned decades, from his days with Europcar in South Africa, to recent years working with a series of startups in the UK. Two of these mobility startups have since been acquired, so he clearly has a keen eye for knowing who’s leading the way in mobility.

A seasoned executor with an entrepreneurial spirit, Jade was also part of the founding teams that set up the first free-floating bike share and one of the first car clubs in the UK. Having spent time expanding Hubject’s EV-charging platform here in the UK, Jade’s next move is to bring his invaluable experience of the mobility industry to XXImo, as Head of Partner Development for the UK & Ireland.

Ahead of his appointment, we spoke to Jade about his new position, and how he expects XXImo to impact the fuel and EV charging industry in the UK.

We are currently experiencing a transition from traditional to modern in the whole mobility industry. The first wave of new and exciting startups has passed by now, but the ripples that they introduced are creating waves through the sector. The change is also being sped up and incentivised by local, national, and international governments. As well as the EU Climate Agreement, the UK government’s push to reach net zero emissions by 2050 will likely see a significant push towards a decarbonised mobility industry.

"With the current state of play in UK mobility, particularly in the fuel and EV charging industries, adaptability is key. Startups are able to move faster, adapt quickly to new technology, and grow rapidly as a result. There’s no reason that the more traditional market leaders in the industry cannot do the same, but they would need to change their current mindset to do so."

"Customer behaviour and demands have changed across the board, and businesses have to be able to adapt. Every new technology introduced offers new business opportunities, and there are constantly new players entering the market with the next great solution that will change the industry forever. Urban mobility in particular has already been changing for years and, just as we see new car and bike sharing services enter the market, the demand for new fuel and EV charging solutions will continue to grow – and converge. The competitive landscape is changing and that puts traditional companies at risk, if they choose not to change with it. Companies should be considering HOW to take advantage of the change, not IF they should take advantage."

"The current business opportunities all require companies to ensure that they can provide what customers are looking for, even as that continues to change. Companies need to expand their services and enter new markets to reflect the range of needs that their customers have now. By creating flexible, customer-centric solutions, companies can adapt to the shift in the fuel and EV charging industries. Top of their list should be to address the growing importance of sustainability goals and ensure that they can accommodate electric vehicles. With changing laws and regulations, being left behind in the fuel and EV charging industry is a very real possibility. By moving faster and both extending and integrating their offering, companies will be able to secure their business in the digital future."

"It’s not necessarily a case of traditional against new in the mobility industry but recognising those that fail to adapt to the new state of the market are likely to be left behind. Those that embrace the shift will find increasing business opportunities and new solutions to fulfil their customers' needs as they continue to shift. New challengers in the industry that are willing to lead the change will find themselves at a clear advantage over those players whose “strategy” is to shut their eyes and hope it all goes away."

"Giving me a call would be a good start! Seriously, though: businesses with a clear vision for the future and the courage to take the first step will inevitably lead the way. The willingness to adapt will allow these companies to stay ahead of the curve. They would certainly benefit from having partners that understand the new state of mobility, to help them to recognise common pitfalls, and share best practices. They could also consider a low-risk platform that enables them to create new and customisable mobility solutions with a short time to market. It’s difficult if not impossible for any service provider to do this on their own – so working in partnership with like-minded firms, who bring value to the table, is the only way forward. XXImo’s commitment to forging innovative, win-win partnerships is a key reason why I stepped into the company. When we talk about partnership, we mean it."

"XXImo wants to lead the way in helping businesses to adapt to changes across the mobility industry. By creating solutions that are adjustable to the needs of different customers and businesses, XXImo enables its partners to move quickly and stay flexible. With constant development of our platform and services, we can and will help our partners stay one step ahead. XXImo always works in close alignment with its partners, sharing best practices, expertise, and shortcuts to success to ensure that businesses can adapt and grow quickly."