Janus Electric Holdings Ltd (ASX:JNS) has appointed Ben Hutt as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective January 12, 2026.
Hutt joins the heavy transport electrification company with a background in energy technology, business scaling and capital markets. He brings more than 20 years’ experience driving growth across the technology and industrial sectors, including CEO roles at energy SaaS group Evergen and HR technology company Search Party Group.
Most recently, he was CEO and Managing Director of Evergen, an energy asset orchestration software platform, where he oversaw its growth from a venture-backed startup to a larger-scale energy SaaS business before its acquisition by Intellihub Group in November 2023.
A further attraction for Janus was the more than A$70 million Hutt has raised across public and private markets. He also previously led Search Party Group through an initial public offering and international expansion into the UK, Canada and the US.
"We are delighted to welcome Ben to the Janus team. His specific experience in the energy transition sector, combined with his proven ability to commercialise technology and lead high-growth businesses, makes him the ideal leader for Janus at this pivotal time,” Janus Electric chairman Dennis Lin said.
"Ben’s track record of driving shareholder value, coupled with his hands-on experience in navigating complex capital markets and strategic exits, aligns perfectly with our mission to decarbonise the heavy transport industry. The Board looks forward to working with him to deliver on the immense potential of our exchangeable battery technology."
He has also held senior leadership positions at Macquarie Group and Slingshot Accelerator.
Next phase of commercialisation
The appointment followed a selection process and is intended to support the next phase of commercialising Janus’ exchangeable battery systems for heavy transport.
"I am thrilled to join Janus Electric as we enter this exciting phase of development. The decarbonisation of heavy transport is one of the most critical challenges of our time, and Janus’s unique exchangeable battery technology offers a practical, scalable solution that the market urgently needs,” Hutt said.
"I look forward to working with the Board and the team to accelerate our commercial rollout, deepen our relationships with logistics partners, and drive significant value for our shareholders."
Before his CEO roles, Hutt held senior consulting positions at Macquarie Group, where he worked on strategic initiatives during the Global Financial Crisis.
Hutt holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Leeds.
Outside work, he is an endurance athlete and has completed a solo English Channel swim.