Circus SE has appointed Jan Hesselbarth as Vice President Defense Strategy & Operations, the first to hold the role within the company’s newly established Defense Business Unit. The move follows Circus’ expansion into the defense sector with its autonomous meal supply technology.
Hesselbarth, a former Bundeswehr airborne officer, brings more than 20 years of experience in military leadership and strategic advisory roles across NATO missions and federal institutions. His previous work includes training over 5,000 personnel in the German armed forces and contributing to national security studies, including a maritime security assessment for Germany’s Ministry of the Interior.
In his new role, Hesselbarth will oversee the strategic and operational rollout of Circus’ CA-M autonomous meal supply system, targeting use by armed forces and civil protection units. His responsibilities include logistics coordination, deployment oversight, and compliance within security-sensitive environments.
The appointment is part of Circus SE’s broader strategy to extend its AI-driven robotics platform beyond commercial food service into dual-use applications aimed at defense and critical infrastructure sectors. CEO and founder Nikolas Bullwinkel said the hire aligns with the company’s objectives for secure and scalable field operations.
“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. I look forward to building systems that deliver.”
