Corporate Governance

Thomas Zimmermann has been CEO of FREENOW, Europe’s leading multimobility platform with a strong focus on taxis, since April 2022. Under his leadership, the company has sharpened its strategic direction – with a clear commitment to sustainable mobility, a renewed focus on the strengths of the taxi business, and profitable growth, achieving a major milestone of profitability for the first time in 2024.

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Zimmermann has shaped FREENOW’s development since 2018. He played a key role in transforming the company from a traditional ride-hailing service into a multimodal platform that now serves millions of users across Europe.

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Before joining FREENOW, Zimmermann held senior leadership roles at IONIQ Group and Goodgame Studios. With more than 15 years of experience in the digital economy, he brings deep expertise in platform strategy, profitable scaling, and navigating regulated markets.
What drives him: a customer centric vision of urban mobility that works – efficient, digitally connected, economically viable, and rooted in everyday city life.

Sasha Borovik, is a Harvard Law graduate, brings 20+ years of legal leadership across AI, tech, and defense, including as Director of Legal Affairs at Microsoft and key legal architect behind defense AI leader Helsing’s $5Bn scale-up. He brings deep expertise in global negotiations and IP strategy across commercial and defense sectors - working with customers such as NATO, the UN, and Ukrainian forces. Joins as Circus’ first core defense executive to accelerate international growth and legal strategy following the CA-M launch as its first autonomous solution for the defense sector and the CA-1 serial production.

Co-Founder of Flink: Scaled the company to a European market leader in quick commerce - growing to 12,000+ employees across 140 locations in 18 months.

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Transition to Circus: Sold stake in Flink at $2.85 billion valuation in 2021 before founding Circus to focus on AI and robotics.

Global business leader with 40 years of experience scaling enterprises into international market leaders.

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As CEO of Viega (2015–2024), Claus doubled revenues from €1.15B to €2.3B, expanded into the U.S. market, and led growth through global headwinds.

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Previously CEO and Board Member at Zwilling, where he scaled the company to €655M in revenue, led five acquisitions, and drove international expansion.

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Held senior leadership roles at Disney, Whirlpool, and Arla, shaping strategy, global growth, and brand positioning across consumer and industrial sectors.

Former partner at VC Flagship Founders. Previously management at global logistics company Auerbach Schifffahrt.

With more than 30 years of international sales experience, Frank Holtey is responsible for the overall commercial strategy of the Circus Group. He joined Circus in 2024 as Director of Global Affairs and has since built key international business relationships - including strategic key accounts such as REWE.As CCO, Frank leads the areas of Sales, Strategy, Marketing, Partner Relations, and Customer Experience. He is driving global expansion at a time when Circus is accelerating the scaling of its CA-1 AI robot with major clients such as REWE and Meta, while simultaneously expanding its presence in the European defense sector.

Kasper Rørsted is one of Europe’s leading business executives with over 30 years of experience managing global companies across technology and consumer industries.

He served as CEO of Adidas (2016–2022) and Henkel (2008–2016), driving digital transformation, global expansion, and record performance. Before that, he held leadership roles at Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, and Oracle.

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Rørsted currently serves on the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG, Lenovo Group Ltd and the Board of A.P. Møller-Mærsk, bringing his strategic expertise to the world’s most respected technology and logistics companies.

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He is widely recognized for his leadership in scaling complex organizations and building some of the world’s most renowned brands.

Former CTO Platform at Aitme, acquired by Circus.  Previously software development lead at Freenow (now Lyft).

Renowned strategist with 30+ years of experience in global business transformation, marketing, and consumer innovation.

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As a former McKinsey leader, he built and led the firm’s European Marketing & Sales Practice, and shaped the growth strategies of some of the world’s most influential brands.

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Advocates for sustainable development and food security as a Board of Trustees member at Welthungerhilfe (WHH) - a mission that closely aligns with Circus SE’s vision to reduce food waste and revolutionize food production through AI and robotics.

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Combines strategic insight with purpose-driven leadership to guide Circus SE’s global expansion.

Seasoned executive and entrepreneur with a track record of building and leading global tech and service businesses—from Siemens to scale-ups and IPO.

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Co-founded and served as CEO of KATEK Group, scaling it into one of Europe’s leading electronics companies - from zero to €800M revenue in 5 years. Led IPO in 2021 and oversaw the acquisition of 12 companies across Germany, the US, Canada, Malaysia, and Eastern Europe. KATEK was acquired by Kontron AG in 2024.

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Held senior leadership roles at Siemens (including Managing Director of Siemens Enterprise Communications and Siemens IT Solutions & Services), Dell (President of Services EMEA), and British Telecom (CEO Germany & Austria).

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Chairs or advises multiple companies:
 – NFON AG (AI-powered business comms)
 – Cenit AG (Digitalization & PLM)
 – StrategyFrame (SME strategy platform)
 – i-pointing (Presentation-as-a-Service)
 – TeleAlarm (TeleCare & nurse call systems)

Former CEO of a warehouse robotics startup. Ilona held senior roles at Gorillas, Zalando, and Panalpina—leading multimillion-euro supply chain programs and commercial teams across Europe, Asia, and North America.

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Blends operational depth with a sharp commercial edge. Expert in complex sales cycles, C-level negotiations, and scaling tech from concept to market.

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Also a university lecturer in IT & Logistics, teaching tech implementation and business transformation to Master’s students.

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Fluent in Chinese with an MBA from Frankfurt School of Finance.

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Global business executive with 15+ years experience in the international foodservice industry - including senior management roles at industry leaders like RATIONAL AG, BRITA or Liebherr with up to 250 million Euro P&L responsibility.

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Max started his career as a chef in Michelin starred kitchens, worked in Europe, the US and Asia, holds an Executive M.B.A in general management as well as a doctoral degree from the University of Worcester about sales strategy development within the foodservice industry environment.

Lawyer with over 20 year of experience.

Founder and Manging Partner of UrbanTech Fund 2bX, focussing on sustainable and disruptive city development ventures.

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Co-Founder of Flink: Scaled the company to a European market leader in quick commerce - growing to 12,000+ employees across 140 locations in 18 months.

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Transition to Circus: Sold stake in Flink at $2.85 billion valuation in 2021 before founding Circus to focus on AI and robotics.

Over a decade of experience in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing.

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At Arrival: Led global industrialization as Director of Manufacturing Engineering—delivering end-to-end production systems across the electric vehicle portfolio.

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At Nissan UK: Drove deployment of robotic assembly lines, innovative manufacturing processes, and autonomous delivery systems across multiple vehicle models.