Stella Energy has appointed former Tesla executive Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen as its new CEO, marking a transition as the company moves from founder-led operations into a more structured scale-up phase. Co-founder Kenneth Herschel will step into the role of Chairman following the change. The shift comes as Stella, which develops and operates ultra-fast urban charging infrastructure for professional drivers and fleets in Denmark and Norway, seeks to expand beyond its current markets. Alongside Bardenfleth-Hansen’s appointment, the existing leadership structure is being retained through Deputy CEO Mads Wind, with the new team expected to focus on scaling operations internationally and rolling out additional charging sites, following a period of strong recent growth and rising utilisation across its network.
Stella Energy develops and operates ultra-fast urban charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, with a focus on supporting professional drivers and fleet operators. The company builds and runs charging sites in city environments where access to high-capacity charging is limited, aiming to improve operational efficiency for high-usage EV users. Stella currently operates in Denmark and Norway and is expanding its network through partner-led deployments across additional European markets. Stella was born out of the team’s experience with the fully electric ride-hailing platform Viggo: drivers lacked access to ultra-fast charging in city centres, so the team built the infrastructure themselves.
During Kenneth’s tenure as CEO, the Stella/Viggo group launched, scaled, and exited one of Europe’s first fully electric ride-hailing platforms, growing it to an annual platform gross revenue of DKK 250m before selling the business to Bolt in 2025. In parallel, the team established EV charging operations in Denmark and Norway and built a high-performing urban fast-charging network for professional drivers.
Stella’s revenue grew by 76% from 2024 to 2025, with December 2025 up 355% year-on-year. The growth has been driven primarily by the launch in Norway, additional sites, and a record-high average utilisation, providing a strong foundation for the next phase of growth.
“Handing the keys to Peter is a natural next step for us now,” said Kenneth Herschel. “His experience is the right match for the next chapter, and I’m excited to support the team from the chair role.”
Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen, who co-founded Viggo in 2019, brings international scaling experience from the EV and electrification sector, including nine years at Tesla (serving as Director EMEA) and CEO experience from Zaptec.
“Stella is entering a new phase where international execution and infrastructure-grade scaling are key,” said Peter Bardenfleth, CEO of Stella Energy. “I’m looking forward to accelerating our rollout and expanding into new markets.”
With Peter as CEO, Stella will scale its fast-charging network into new markets for commercial drivers and fleets. The growth strategy remains partnership-led, building upon their existing demand partnerships in Denmark and Norway.
Click here to read more community news.
Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/stella-energy-appoints-peter-bardenfleth-hansen-as-ceo/
