Blacklane promotes René van Olst to COO

Global chauffeur service unites operations to support record revenue, rides and growth

BERLIN – 15 JUNE 2022 – Global chauffeur service Blacklane named René van Olst as Chief Operations Officer (COO). He oversees the company’s guest-facing Customer Care department and chauffeur-facing Partner Management team, which he has run for over three years.

Promoting van Olst supports Blacklane’s post-pandemic travel boom. The company now exceeds pre-pandemic monthly ride and revenue volumes and continues to grow month over month. In his new role, van Olst aligns rising guest demand with chauffeur supply, customer service staff, and their technology needs.

He also guides Blacklane’s evolution to an electric vehicle (EV) fleet. The company offers EV rides in more than 30 cities. By 2025, Blacklane aims for 75% of all rides to be in EVs.

“The reset of the global travel industry has upended travelers’ expectations. They value safety, quality and sustainability more than ever before,” said Jens Wolthorf, co-founder and CEO of Blacklane. “René’s team has rebuilt our network of top chauffeurs in more than 50 countries. René knows how to meet travelers’ pent-up demands for premium trips and lay the foundation for a greener future.”

The team has nearly 200 people across North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

Before Blacklane, van Olst worked with large teams and two-sided business models. At Zalando, Europe’s largest online fashion retailer, he co-created a personal shopping experience that grew to 700 stylists serving hundreds of thousands of customers. Prior to that, he consulted on e-commerce projects and a reorganization of a national insurance customer care department. Van Olst has worked and studied in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands and is fluent in English, German and Dutch.

“Scaling a high-quality service for the most discerning global travelers requires exacting standards in chauffeur partners, customer care staff and the digital experience,” said van Olst. “We must sustain that excellence to maintain growth, while electrifying our fleet to best protect the environment.”

About Blacklane (blacklane.com)

Blacklane’s global chauffeur service brings peace of mind to travelers moving through a fast-paced world. The crew’s dedication to safety, reliability, and smart technology places Blacklane at the forefront of a new era of stress-free travel. Since 2017, the company has been carbon-neutral, combining a five-star guest experience with care for the planet. Upgrade your travels on Blacklane’s mobile apps or website.