John Thomas to head global sales at EV charging supplier Ampure

Electric vehicle (EV) and industrial charging product and services provider Ampure, formerly Webasto Charging Systems, recently announced it has appointed John Thomas as global head of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) sales to grow its business.

Operations-focused middle market private equity firm Transom Capital Group (Transom) recently acquired Ampure as a portfolio company.

Thomas, who was president and CEO of Webasto Charging Systems from 2018 to 2020, has rejoined the Ampure leadership ranks, with the target of continuing the growth journey for its OEM and aftermarket businesses, said Ampure.

“John is the right person to lead our continued growth,” said Russ Roenick, co-founder and managing partner of Transom. “He brings a wealth of industry knowledge, a strong reputation with the vehicle OEMs, and a unique ability to create partnerships across the entire energy ecosystem."

Thomas brings over 30 years of global automotive, government relations, and transportation expertise, including more than seven years of leadership in the EV space. He recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Autel Energy, leading its transition to the North American stage

"Ampure uses highly skilled engineering, a methodology of working directly with vehicle OEMs, market intelligence, and a focus on level 2 charging, which covers 90% of all EV charging applications,” said Thomas. “This unique mix allows our organization to design, develop, and manufacture high-quality, regulatory-compliant hardware and software for vehicles, homes, and commercial applications across the globe."

Transom, Ampure share vision for EV adoption

Transom recently announced its acquisition of Webasto Charging Solutions, Inc. from Webasto Group. Transom is acquiring a majority stake in the business, and Webasto will remain a minority shareholder. Concurrent with the transaction, the company name has changed to Ampure.

Ampure said it has delivered safe and reliable chargers worldwide, backed by in-house design, software, hardware engineering, and manufacturing. The company said this blend of capabilities ensures that it can meet customers' evolving needs while maintaining automotive standards for reliability and quality. Ampure said its systems have become the charger of choice for many major vehicle OEMs, charge point operators (CPO), airports, and plant operators over the past decade.

Ampure said it is commitment to accelerating the transition to electromobility by defining the landscape of innovative and reliable charging for electric and industrial vehicles.

Transom said its investment underscores its confidence in Ampure to generate value in the expanding electric vehicle charging ecosystem. With a shared vision for quality and innovation, Transom said it aims to leverage its operational expertise, industry knowledge, and extensive network to further propel Ampure’s growth trajectory. Transom’s team of professionals will work closely with the existing management team to drive operational efficiency, expand market reach, and explore new product development opportunities.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Transom for the transaction.