Circus SE, a global leader in AI software and robotics for the food service industry, has appointed Jan Hesselbarth as Vice President of Defense Strategy & Operations. With over 20 years of military leadership, Hesselbarth will spearhead the company’s new Defense Business Unit, focusing on deploying autonomous meal supply systems like the CA-M for defense and civil protection sectors, enhancing operational efficiency and security.
Jan Hesselbarth named VP of Circus SE’s Defense Business Unit.
Brings 20+ years of Bundeswehr and NATO mission experience.
Leads rollout of CA-M autonomous meal supply system for defense.
Focuses on logistics, deployment, and compliance in critical settings.
Circus SE scales dual-use AI robotics for global defense operations.
Aligns with Germany’s $400B defense spending boost through 2029.
Jan Hesselbarth, a former Bundeswehr airborne officer, brings extensive experience from NATO missions and federal advisory roles to Circus SE. “Jan combines operational command experience with strategic foresight – a rare profile at the intersection of defense, logistics, and innovation,” said Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO and Founder of Circus. Hesselbarth’s role involves overseeing the strategic and operational deployment of the CA-M autonomous meal supply system, designed for armed forces and civil protection in high-risk environments.
The CA-M system, part of Circus SE’s dual-use AI robotics portfolio, represents a breakthrough in autonomous food supply for defense sectors. Hesselbarth’s leadership will ensure seamless logistics and compliance in security-critical settings, building on his experience managing teams of up to 1,000 personnel. “I’m excited to join Circus at this inflection point,” said Jan Hesselbarth. “Bringing autonomous technology into real-world military and security operations requires more than innovation – it takes field experience, discipline, and trust.”
Circus SE’s expansion into defense aligns with Germany’s commitment to invest $400 billion in defense through 2029, driven by geopolitical shifts and NATO priorities. Hesselbarth’s prior work, including training 5,000+ Bundeswehr personnel and co-authoring a maritime security study for the German Ministry of the Interior, positions him to address these demands. His expertise supports Circus’s mission to safeguard critical infrastructure through scalable, AI-driven solutions.
Circus SE’s appointment of Hesselbarth marks a pivotal step in scaling its Defense Business Unit. By leveraging his military and strategic expertise, Circus is poised to transform defense logistics with innovative, reliable autonomous systems, strengthening its global presence in both civilian and military sectors.
Circus SE is a global AI and robotics company developing autonomous systems for food supply in both civilian and defense sectors. Its flagship robot, the patented CA-1, is the world’s first fully autonomous food production robot, now in serial production. Powered by proprietary embodied AI, Circus delivers industrial-scale, high-reliability meal output with minimal human input. Headquartered in Munich, the company is building the global infrastructure for autonomous food supply – on a mission to fuel humanity.
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