“Problem first, solution follows”: Ben Olierook on leading product at Eneve

Behind the Screens at Eneve 

The energy sector is at an inflection point. Volatility is the new normal. Grids are growing more complex by the quarter. The gap between suppliers who can act with precision and those who cannot is widening, fast. 

On top of that, the energy SaaS market is full of loud promises. "Algorithm driven." "Disruption ready." "Cutting-edge technology." 

Eneve's product team responds to the energy market realities and tech noise something more durable: software that energy suppliers and traders can genuinely rely on, and a product roadmap that keeps proving what that means. "We want to be the foundation that growth can run on," he says. "Solid underneath, and increasingly bold on top," says Eneve's Head of Product, Ben Olierook.

When you ask Ben how he ended up at Eneve, he doesn't give you a polished origin story. He talks about people, problems, and the urge to build something that lasts.

After four and a half years at Dutch energy supplier Greenchoice, Ben stumbled upon Eneve (back then Energy21). "Something clicked. The vision, the challenge ahead felt too interesting to walk away from."

That challenge has since become Eneve: a group with deep market knowledge, a growing European footprint, and a shared mission to help energy suppliers and traders navigate an increasingly complex system.

From platform PM to Head of Product

Ben originally joined as product manager for Eneve's market messaging, balancing and shipping solution suite. The turning point came with the Dutch market programme Allocation 2.0. All major BRPs and suppliers had to change how they operated. Instead of just tweaking each client's setup, Ben and the team used this as a moment to redefine the future of the product.

"We took all the demands from Allocation 2.0 and basically rebuilt from the core," he says. "We moved towards a much more standard solution, while still respecting the big legacies of our clients. And we are expanding the suite with new solutions, such as BRP as a Service."

In late 2025, Ben stepped into the role of Head of Product for Eneve. That shift took him from managing one solution to overseeing the full software suite (previously known as EBASE, GridHub, Ecedo and Jules).

"This change means that now, I can think much more strategically," he says. "As a product manager you already work on vision; one level up you're setting where the entire suite is going, and steering the big ship, making sure talent lands where it can make the most impact, and teams across countries work better together."

Eneve today: trusted core, evolving experience

If Ben had to name the current chapter for Eneve's software suite, he'd talk about strong foundations and a lot of momentum. The suite has been the trusted core behind some of Europe's leading energy suppliers for years, handling complex market processes with reliability.

"We know that our products do the job well in some of the most demanding market environments in Europe," he says. "Now we're putting even more focus on how they look and feel, so that their power is immediately clear to everyone who uses it."

That's why Eneve is investing in the next generation of the user experience: not to change what already works, but to make its value even more intuitive and accessible.

"The engine is strong; refining the experience on top of it is a big part of our product roadmap. We're keeping up with the energy transition, and building the infrastructure for it at the same time.

Underneath this is a clear philosophy: Eneve builds for the long term. Not just responding to what's trending, but creating software that energy suppliers and traders can count on. Both today, and as the market evolves.

"There's a lot happening in our industry. New technologies, new market dynamics, a lot of noise. We want to be the software suite that makes it all work reliably, so our customers can actually take advantage of it."

That reliability is what lets Eneve's customers move with confidence. "Whether it's AI, automation, new market rules... the question is always: can you act on it? Can you trust the data underneath? That's what we make possible. We give our clients control, so they can focus on what matters most: growth and serving their customers."

A group built on deep market knowledge

"Beyond software, in all locations, what we have in common is deep energy market knowledge," Ben explains. "We know our stuff. We're the go-to for our clients. Not just to hand over software and say 'good luck,' but to help them run their business in a really complex world."

That complexity is exactly where Eneve shines. Across the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Spain, Portugal and beyond, the group combines software products with consultancy and market expertise. He believes the most interesting solutions live between products, teams and countries.

"Having this full stack of bright people and products means we can solve those problems together."

Solution-centric by nature

Throughout the conversation, one word keeps coming back: problem.

"I'm the guy who wants to solve puzzles," Ben says. "In complexity I try to find simple solutions and push for change. Sometimes that means getting people enthusiastic enough to take a controlled risk instead of waiting for an answer."

He expects the same mindset from the people he works with. "Problem-centric, then solution-centric," he summarises. "If you really understand the problem, the rest will follow."

That curiosity doesn't stop at the office door. After work, when he's not with his family, you'll most likely find him deep in a documentary or an online rabbit hole. "I don't really do physical puzzles," he admits. "But I love understanding how things work, how the world works, and diving into the full story. Then I disappear into deep-dive research for hours."

The human side of a "big ship" role

Ben jokes that he's a bit of a workaholic, but he's clear about what a good day looks like now that he's leading product for Eneve.

"A good day is one where the agenda still has two or three hours of empty space," he says. "Time for deep work, to really think. And a couple of sessions where we put multiple disciplines from different product lines in the same room to tackle a customer problem and come out with a solution we want to experiment on."

He draws a lot of energy from those collaborative moments and from certain people. He mentions Eneve's "spiritual leader" Michiel as someone who can reignite his enthusiasm in an hour. "You leave those sessions roused up again, with this can-do feeling that we will make it happen."

At home, the other source of energy is less abstract. "I have three children and the youngest is six months, so it's busy days," he smiles. "Going to the gym a couple of times a week helps. It frees up my head and gives me the energy to do this role in a sustainable way."

Asked if he ever feels overwhelmed by the responsibility, he pauses for a moment and then shrugs it off in typical Ben fashion.

"It's a hell of a job, yes. But it's also my hobby. Steering a big ship, solving real client problems, and knowing that what we build helps this sector through stormy weather. That's what makes it worth it."