Vchrgd has appointed James Read as chief AI officer, strengthening the company’s investment in artificial intelligence, software and technology to enable its continued growth.

The appointment is the latest step in Vchrgd’s evolution from an EV charger manufacturer into an integrated charging technology business. Building on the growth strategy announced earlier this year, Read will lead the development of AI-powered tools, software and connected technologies, all designed to complement the company’s human-led customer support, improve operational efficiency and support the delivery of new products and services.

Read joins Vchrgd with a diverse technology background, spanning software architecture, cloud deployment, data analysis, automation and complex operational environments.

A former Boeing 777 captain with more than 25 years’ flying experience, he has since worked within Tesla’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) testing programme, leading their UK and Finland teams, before founding and developing an AI-powered financial compliance platform.

Vchrgd draws on AI as a practical way to improve the experience for installers, wholesalers, fleets and homeowners. Read will lead projects focused on deploying AI to support Vchrgd’s customer facing team, and to better connect the software platforms and internal tools that will help the business scale while maintaining high levels of innovation and service.

This builds on a growing portfolio of proprietary technology already under development, including improved customer support platforms, intelligent operational tools, connected software and further charge point and home energy innovations.

Read commented: “AI gives us enormous potential, assisting our people to work more efficiently, improving our customer experiences and removing complexity from our systems. We’re building technology that will help customers, support our partners and give the business the platform it needs for its next stage of growth.”

The appointment follows that of marketing director Gordon Ross earlier this year and forms part of a wider investment in people, technology and capability as Vchrgd continues to scale. Recruitment is also underway across engineering, customer support, operations and commercial functions to support the company’s expanding software platform and growing partner network.

Phil McDermott, executive chairman at Vchrgd, said: “The future of EV charging will be shaped by intelligent software, connected services and businesses that continually find better ways to support customers and partners. James brings a rare combination of operational leadership, software expertise and AI capability that will help accelerate that vision, ensuring Vchrgd continues to grow sustainably.”