Blacklane adds Henning Groß to management team as new CTO

Global chauffeur service is scaling for the next phase of growth

BERLIN – 13 APRIL 2022 – Global chauffeur service Blacklane named Henning Groß as chief technology officer (CTO). Groß runs Blacklane’s engineering and product teams, which comprise one third of Blacklane’s 350 employees. Most tech employees work in Berlin or Barcelona, and the company is hiring in both locations.

Groß oversees the ongoing development of Blacklane’s product, technical innovation, resilience and security to support guests, chauffeurs, corporate travel managers and travel agents. His responsibilities include Blacklane’s booking platform, guest and chauffeur apps, and customer service technology.

“Blacklane has surpassed pre-pandemic monthly revenue and we forecast strong growth this year,” said CEO and Co-founder Jens Wohltorf. “Henning has the technical expertise to scale our systems to the next level and the people skills to grow and develop our crew.”

Groß replaces Frank Steuer, who co-founded Blacklane with Wohltorf. Steuer remains as shareholder and as part of the company’s board of directors. He handed over daily work to split time between Berlin and Finland with his family.

Groß has an extensive track record building efficient companies and transforming organizations. He focuses on an open culture, healthy team structures and performance-oriented values.

“Blacklane modernized the chauffeur industry. The company made local, professional chauffeurs available and affordable around the world,” said Groß. “Our priorities for the post-pandemic travel era include complimentary services for airlines and cruises, chauffeur hailing for on-demand rides, and innovative electric vehicle (EV) service.”

Groß has served as CTO in the insurance, marketing, IT services, and media and publishing industries. Before those, he held senior technical roles in online retail, automotive and translation services. He has co-founded three companies:

• UPDAY, Europe's biggest news app.

• ELEMENT Insurance AG, a B2B white-label insurance company and Germany's first insurtech company licensed by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

• Zeile7, a premium consultancy providing interim CxO services, full-service project execution and upskilling services.

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.