Noud Ottens will be the new general manager of Bolt Netherlands from April 2024.
He succeeds Lars Speekenbrink, who has held this position since 2020 and will now fulfill an international role within the company. With his appointment, Ottens will use his extensive experience in operational management and strategic leadership to further advance Bolt's mission of promoting affordable, safe and sustainable urban mobility.
Bolt, the leading mobility platform in Europe, offers a range of services including ride-hailing, shared cars, electric bicycles and scooters, as well as food and grocery delivery. The company has built a strong position with more than 150 million customers in more than 45 countries in Europe and Africa, including a substantial presence in the Netherlands.
Since its introduction to the Dutch market in 2020 with taxi services in Amsterdam, Bolt has quickly expanded its offering. The company now offers ride-hailing services in major cities such as Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven and shared ebike services in cities such as Enschede, Groningen, Hengelo, Leeuwarden and Nijmegen.
Under Ottens' leadership, Bolt is ready to further develop the definition of urban travel in the Netherlands with innovative and sustainable mobility solutions. Improving security and quality of services remains a priority for Bolt, as evidenced by recent launches of advanced security features. These include real-time monitoring of deviations during journeys, the ability for drivers and passengers to immediately emergency services make calls, share rides, record audio, or request support with one touch via the app.
Reflecting on his new role, Ottens expressed his enthusiasm: “I am delighted to take on the role of General Manager for Bolt Nederland at this crucial time. Our mission to improve urban mobility by making it more sustainable, safer and more accessible is in line with the changing needs of cities and their residents. I am committed to driving innovation and expansion throughout the Netherlands, and ensuring that Bolt remains at the forefront of providing comprehensive and reliable mobility solutions.”
Before joining Bolt, Ottens was involved in the launch of Budbee in the Netherlands, a last-mile logistics company for e-commerce. His experience was further enhanced by his work at Google in various offices in the Nordics, where he served as Field Operations Lead for EMEA. Ottens holds a Master of Business Administration from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and a Master in International Business & Business Intelligence from EAE Business School, which positions him well to lead Bolt Netherlands to continued growth and success.
