Brian Dewil is Drive Electric’s new chief executive

Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson says newly appointed chief executive Brian Dewil is the perfect fit for the association’s next chapter.

“To date we have focused on light vehicles and now we are looking to expand into commercial and heavy vehicles too.”

Dewil says that as in the incoming chief executive his focus is on building meaningful partnerships between industry leaders, government bodies, and communities to strengthen New Zealand’s EV ecosystem.

“Our priorities are clear – advocating for forward-thinking EV policies, expanding our charging network, growing membership into light commercial and heavy EVs, and making electric mobility accessible to all people living in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he says.

“We’re committed to fostering innovation while delivering practical solutions that benefit both our environment and our communities.

“I look forward to working alongside our stakeholders to create lasting change and contribute to a sustainable future,” says Dewil.

“Together, we’ll establish our country as a leader in clean and affordable transportation.”

The Drive Electric board says Dewil is an accomplished executive who has consistently grown and scaled companies, particularly in the mobility and technology sectors and that he will bring valuable insights and contributions to Drive Electric to accelerate the uptake of e-mobility here.

Dewil is the former founding managing director of Ola New Zealand who successfully led the company from pre-launch to capturing 40% market share and achieving $65 million in annual recurring revenue within three years.

During his time as Ola board director, Dewil provided strategic oversight on regulatory compliance and legal matters while spearheading enterprise partnerships across Australia and New Zealand.

He led the “Go To Market” strategy at Ola Electric Mobility, contributing to the company’s expansion and market penetration.

Dewil has demonstrated expertise in building businesses from inception, having shaped both UrbanSherpa and Ola NZ’s strategic direction and organisational culture.

He has Microsoft AI certification.

Dewil’s executive experience includes leadership roles at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) where the focus was on driving innovation and strategic growth.

He reportedly came from South Africa where he was involved in the family business Call of Africa Safaris and featured in NZ Business.