Joao Ferreira

Since Feb 25: Engie Energy Access: Regional Country Director, Southern Africa        (S. Africa)

Leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO), SHS and solar mini-grids solutions provider in Africa in a credit basis. 

Hired as consultant to implement a turnaround to improve the closure EBIT price in the sale out (closure) to company Ignite. Responsible for Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambican businesses (5 entities), P&L, strategy and leadership to 3 Country Directors, Senior Member of the Board of Directors with Stakeholder Engagement. Lead the development of Solar PV projects, bioenergy - biomass and Mini-grids in partnership with funding facilities (Grants), partnerships and private investors, from Financing to Commissioning. 

Sept 22 to Jan 25: Voith Hydro, GMBH: General Manager / Project Director EPC          (Germany)

Global technology company in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport.

Following several years of low financial performance in project execution for large HydroPower EPC projects, appointed as project General Manager and Director to implement turnaround and transformation in their biggest EPC Hydropower construction, leading Engineering, Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics, Site Operations, HSE, Claim strategy, Schedule P6 and Contract Management, reporting progression to the leading project consultant based in Switzerland and to all stakeholders of the project under FIDIC.

• Lead an international team of 30+ engineers in Germany, all areas from Procurement, Quality and Site Operations including a French site manager and hundreds of site subcontractors in all areas.
• Developed and implemented strategic plan for the Inga G25 project, a 180MW plant valued at USD 100m.
• Achieving positive CTC financial results and improved project performance, managed the contract implementing the contractual, claim strategy and the risk and financial management.

Apr 18 - Aug 22: Camusat International: Regional Managing Director LATAM    (Dom Rep/ Panama)

World leader in designing, building telecom infrastructures, fiber optics and ESCO-Energy Savings solutions. 

Hired to turnaround, transform and restructure the business and design the strategy for a continuous and sustainable growth, following 6 years of poor results. Reported to Group President (based in France) with 20+ direct reports, c. 740 employees across Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Dom Rep, Haiti and Colombia.

• Increased shareholder equity from US$4m in 2017 to US$7m in 2020/21. 
• Turned around loss-making regional EBITDA of -€200k in 2017 to positive €3.5m in 2020/2021.
• Grew workforce from 200 employees to 740, and from 1 operations centre to 6 following the acquisition of a competitor. Led the due diligence, acquisition contract closure, merger and restructuration (M&A).
• Designed the performance goals and KPIs for the operations of the 4 entities, standardized a fleet of 500 vehicles and implemented processes for operations monitoring and warehousing processes that immediately impacted P&L and cash, leading the regional Board of Latam and the management team.

Mar 17 - Apr 18: Sullair, LLC (GROUP HITACHI): European Manager B2B dealers     (Michigan, USA) 

Hitachi-owned (since 2017) world-leading major manufacturer of air compressors for industrial and O&G.

A consultancy role (by former contact at Caterpillar) to devise, implement the strategy of the dealership, designed the European Business plan dealer/distributor/OEM network. Reported to Vice-President IB.

• Onboarded and managed $10m contract for a major client within the oil and gas industry. 
• Brought business back to Europe by reengaging dealerships that had been lost in 2010 after the financial crisis and optimized dealerships across Italy, UK, Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain. 
  
   

Aug 14 - Feb. 17: Group Tesuco – Diesel Electrica: Managing Director                                  (Mozambique)

South African private company, part of the international Group Tesuco (known as African Bosch dealer.)

Led all operations to turnaround, provide leadership and restructure the company business within Power Generation, Energy and Machinery in Mozambique, elaborating the B2B and B2C business & procurement Strategy, reporting to Group CEO with +20 direct reports, managing a wider team of 140+. 

• Devised client segmentation model which increased outreach to include businesses focused on power generation, agriculture, automotive (spare parts) and construction equipment (prime sales, spare parts). 
• Led business turnaround and diversification following bankruptcy of client representing 95% revenue.
• Implemented ISO9001 & ISO14000, negot bank overdrafts AND reduced debt from $3M to $500K.
• Signed exclusive brand distribution contracts with Sany Heavy Equipment, LG Air conditioners, Cummins Power, Shantui Construction Machinery, Zoomlion tractors, Wacker Neuson.

Jul 12 - Jul 14: Barloworld Group / Caterpillar: Country Manager (2-year contract)        (Mozambique)

Barloworld Group is a major Caterpillar dealer in Southern Africa, Russia and Iberia.

Engaged with full P&L responsibility over 3 segments: Engines for Marine, Electrical Power and Oil & Gas. 

• Built market share, designed business plan, repositioned as leader in energy and power generation. 
• Boosted turnover by 30% in first year and 52% in the second and improved cash flow and EBITDA.
• Negotiated, signed and managed the contracts (from design) for several EPC Power Generation projects for Telecom, Oil and Gas, Construction and Industrial Companies in Southern Africa as, for example, new power plants for Coca-Cola (2MW) and TDM (1 MW) also working as project director in the field. 

Sept 11 - Jul 12: career break - study full-time the MBA in Energy & Renewables (ISCTE/Columbia SIPA)

Jan 10 to Sept 11: Atlanco Rimec Group: Director of Sales – International Business     (Dublin, Ireland)

Provider of labour for construction, M&E, Manufacturing and Power Generation projects across Europe.

Hired to develop the business and manage all the contracts / negotiations of large greenfield power plants Reporting to Group CEO (based in Dublin) with 11 direct reports (having started with just 1).

• Closed contracts for major deals including the construction of one of the biggest solar photovoltaic power plant in Curbans France (33MW) where we placed 100 highly specialist / skilled staff. 
• At the end of year 1 in post (Dec 2010) promoted by the CEO to become the General Manager for France.

Feb 04 to Nov 09 Anchor Wall Systems Inc.                                                                                   (Minnesota, USA)

Business Manager Portugal                                        

Business Development Manager Portugal, Spain and Egypt                                   

Industrial concrete block solutions and manufacturer for retaining wall, structural engineering solutions.

After 10 years of stagnant growth within Anchor Wall licenses, hired to transform and grow, started as a Unit business manager and then, hired by the US based licensor to manage the Iberian and Egypt licensees.

• Designed and implemented the business strategy targeting the B2C and B2B. Awarded ‘ON TRACK’ recognition for revenue growth and achievements in Sales and Marketing in the US and hired by licensor.
• Grown a business revenue from 200 000 to 3 million USD at their Portuguese Manufacturing Licensee
• Lead several EPC construction projects from design to manufacturing, site execution and commissioning. 
• Created a subcontractor network of installers in the country, and distribution deals with retailers.

Feb 00 to Jan 04: Apamilux SA: Business and Project Manager M&E                                    (Lisbon, Portugal)

Industrial and Manufacturer specialized in M&E and steel solutions, core business the Oil and Gas players.

• Managed several projects from design to manufacturing, execution and commissioning EPC in Portugal.

• Certificate in Business Excellence: Columbia Business School, NY, USA (Ongoing)
• MBA in Energy & Renewables: ISCTE Business School, Lisbon, Portugal / Columbia SIPA, NY, USA
• MSc. Management in International Business: Instituto Superior Gestão, Lisbon, Portugal
• MSc. in Mechanical Engineering: Universidade Nova Lisboa, Technology Faculty, Lisbon, Portugal
  (following on from 5 year BSc. at same university)
• Marketing Management Postgraduate 1 year course (equivalent to a masters degree but without thesis): Instituto Superior de Economia Gestão, Lisbon, Portugal