Jelle Vastert joins M&A consultancy Improved Corporate Finance

Jelle Vastert has joined Dutch M&A consultancy Improved Corporate Finance as an Associate Partner.

Former Strategy& consultant Jelle Vastert brings over fifteen years of experience to the role, most of which has been gained in the automotive and electric mobility segment. The past year, he worked as an independent consultant on projects focused on the transition to sustainable energy and better mobility, including working for SoftBank Energy, Lilium and Lightyear.

At VanMoof, Vastert played a “significant role” in the firm’s scaling – the Dutch e-bike brand landed a €12.5 million investment in May this year as part of its internationalisation strategy.

Before that, Vastert spent five years at Tesla, setting up the European Supercharger team and network to reach a coverage of more than 400 stations, and then oversaw all Tesla's charging programs and networks globally as director of global Electrical Vehicle infrastructure.

He also worked at Better Place, a venture capital backed company with the mission to bring electric cars to the mass market, part of the firm’s rapid rise, but also demise. Before that, Vastert gained experience in the consulting industry, briefly serving Delft-based technical consultancy Horvat & Partners (not to be confused with Germany’s Horvath & Partners) and spending two years at Strategy& (then Booz & Company).

At Improved Corporate Finance, he will contribute to engagements in the E-mobility & energy transition domain – one of the sweet spots of the Amsterdam-based consultancy. The 20-strong team has previously advised on landmark deals in the mid-market including the sale of Etergo to Indian’s Ola Electric Mobility, the sale of GreenFlux’s charge operating division to Joulz, and advising The Mobility House on a fundraising.

Frank Verbeek, Managing Partner of Improved Corporate Finance, said: “Jelle has a clear vision on an accelerated shift to a future of integrated electric mobility and sustainable energy, and a deep track record of operational and technical expertise with companies on the frontier of innovation. He will boost and complement the skills of our team.”

In July, Walter van Damme joined Improved Corporate Finance as an Associate Partner.