Elestor Prepares for Leadership Transition as CEO Steps Down

Guido Dalessi, the CEO of Dutch long-duration electricity storage company Elestor, will conclude his tenure at the end of 2024. Hylke van Bennekom, currently the Chief Operations Officer (COO), will assume the role of CEO starting January 1, 2025.

Dalessi expressed confidence in the leadership transition, stating that he leaves Elestor knowing the company is in capable hands. He will remain a shareholder and plans to maximize his contributions to the energy transition as a non-executive supervisory board member and advisor to various companies.

Dalessi, who graduated with a degree in physics in 1986, joined Elestor in May 2015 as both an executive and an investor. His career began in the R&D of laser-based measuring equipment, followed by a pivotal role at a startup in 1996 that specialized in optical disc production equipment. In this position, he led international business expansion, developed a global sales and service network, and managed operations in Singapore and Los Angeles.

When the company was acquired by Singulus Technologies AG in 2004, Dalessi advanced to the position of Executive Vice President. By 2006, he became CEO after overseeing the merger with the company’s main competitor into Singulus Mastering BV. During his eight-year tenure, the company established itself as a global leader in its sector.

Wiebrand Kout, Elestor’s founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), remarked that Dalessi brought essential business acumen to the company upon joining in 2015, complementing the scientific expertise within the organization. Kout expressed deep gratitude for Dalessi’s leadership, under which Elestor evolved into a key player in advancing clean energy systems.

Van Bennekom, who joined Elestor in April 2021, has played a significant role in scaling up production and is also one of the company’s investors. With a background in Industrial Business and Administration, his career began at Tempress Systems in 2007, where he helped the company emerge as a leader in solar and semiconductor industries. He gained extensive international experience by establishing production sites in Europe and Asia, managing mergers and acquisitions, and leading organizational transformations.

After earning his MBA in 2018, van Bennekom was instrumental in restructuring and selling off various divisions of the Tempress Group in 2020.

Reflecting on the transition, van Bennekom emphasized the strong collaboration he has shared with Dalessi over the years and expressed his readiness to build on Elestor’s successes. The company looks forward to this seamless leadership handover as it continues to drive innovation in the energy sector.

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