Circus SE, a German dual-use technology company specializing in autonomous robotics and AI, has appointed Jurgen Thamm to its Supervisory Board. Shareholders elected Thamm at the company's Annual General Meeting with 98.35 percent approval. Thamm brings over two decades of experience in the global food service sector, having previously served as Regional Director Continental Europe and as a member of the Executive Committee at Compass Group, one of the world's largest food services companies, serving over 5.5 billion meals annually across offices, schools, hospitals, and sports venues. His operational leadership spanned multiple countries and thousands of sites, scaling complex, distributed food operations.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Circus SE. Ten months after launching commercial operations, the company is on track to have more than 50 autonomous systems live across nine countries by year-end. Deployments include enterprise and defense customers, such as the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and Ukrainian ground forces. This rapid scaling underscores the need for seasoned operational governance, which Thamm is expected to provide.
Thamm's familiarity with Circus is not new; he has advised the company since 2024. In his new role, he aims to help Circus scale its operational discipline as it moves into its next phase of growth. "Circus has built something rare: a robotics and AI platform that is already proving itself in the field, from defence deployments to enterprise rollouts. I've seen the pace of execution firsthand. I'm joining the Supervisory Board to help Circus scale that same discipline as it moves into its next phase of growth," Thamm said.
Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO and Founder of Circus, welcomed Thamm's formal appointment, highlighting his industry insights across dozens of markets. "Jurgen has watched Circus scale from close up for almost two years. His industry insights across dozens of markets is exactly what we need on the board as we accelerate our rollout and deepen our position in defence and enterprise," Bullwinkel stated.
Thamm succeeds Mark Harre, who served nearly three years on the board. Circus expressed gratitude for Harre's contributions and commitment to the company's growth.
The move signals Circus's intent to solidify its operational expertise as it expands its autonomous meal supply robotics. With a globally active portfolio and high-volume serial production live, Circus is building infrastructure for autonomous food supply, aiming to fuel humanity. The company's focus on dual-use applications—both civilian and defense—positions it uniquely in the market. This board appointment is expected to enhance Circus's ability to manage its rapid growth and maintain its momentum in the robotics and AI sector.
