Joao Ferreira, General Manager Renewables

Joao Ferreira

General Manager Renewables

VOITH HYDRO GMBH

Location
Portugal
Education
Master's degree, MBA in Energy and Renewable (The Energy MBA)
Experience
20 years, 2 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :20 years, 2 Months

General Manager Renewables at VOITH HYDRO GMBH
  • Germany - Heidenheim an der Brenz
  • My current job since September 2022

The Voith Group is a global technology company with a broad portfolio in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive.

Following several years of low financial performance in Project execution for large Hydro EPCM projects, Voith needed a General Manager to do a turnaround and transformation to turn positive the financial results within one of their biggest EPCM Projects, the Inga G25 a 180MW plant and a 100 million USD project.

Regional Managing Director at Camusat International
  • Panama - Panama
  • April 2018 to September 2022

Market leader in designing, building, managing and powering telecom infrastructures and managing long term energy savings solutions ESCO, IPPs, solar and hybrid for clients via its dedicated investment company AKTIVCO.

 Hired to turnaround and restructure the business following 6 years of poor results.
 Lead Regional Board and direct / implement the regional strategy with full management of the P&L.
 Serve as the General Manager of 4 individual companies in the region: 2 in the Dominican Republic
(1 acquired 2 years ago), 1 in Panama and 1 in Haiti.
 Report to Group President (based in France) with 20+ direct reports and a wider team of c. 740 employees working in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Columbia.

Key Projects & Achievements:
 Increased shareholder equity from US$4m in 2017 to US$7m in 2020.
 Turned around loss-making regional EBITDA of -€200k in 2017 to €3.5m in 2020.
 Grew workforce from 200 employees to 740, and from 1 central Operations centre to 6 following the acquisition of a competitor in Dominican Republic in 2019.
 Recognised by Chairman of the Group Board in 2020 for the outstanding turnaround of the business in Latin America and excellent management of the P&L, increase in EBITDA, turnover, customer satisfaction score (NPS) which rose from 80.1% to 95.5% and cash by optimising working capital.

European Manager- B to B at SULLAIR, LLC ( Group Hitachi)
  • United States - Michigan
  • March 2017 to April 2018

Hitachi-owned (since 2017) world-leading major manufacturer of portable and stationary rotary screw air compressors designed for commercial, oil and gas and industrial use.

 Hired in a consulting role (by former contact at Caterpillar) to devise / implement the growth strategy of the distribution dealership in Europe and to direct all the technical, marketing, financial, training and sales activities associated with the distribution network.
 Reported to Energy and Installation Manager and part of team of 8.

Key Projects & Achievements:
 Onboarded and managed $10m contract for a major new client; at the time, considered to be one of the biggest deals of its kind in the oil and gas industry.
 Brought business back to Europe by reigniting dealerships business that had been lost in 2010 after the credit crunch / financial downturn of 2008/2009, and signed and / or further optimized dealerships across Italy, UK, Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
 Asked to be a key member of the Energy audit team based on technical and engineering experience and credentials; took part in 2 specific energy audit projects - United Technologies Corp (UTC) Aerospace in the UK and UTC OTIS in Gien in France as part of the team of 2 Sullair representatives.

Deputy Managing Director at GROUP TESUCO -Diesel Electrica
  • Mozambique
  • July 2014 to March 2017

South African private company, part of the international Group Tesuco (known as African Bosch rep.), with companies in EMEA and interests in energy, power, telecoms, chemical products, engineering and logistics.

 Joined this competitor of Barloworld to turn around and restructure the company, to improve the client base and to create a major player in Power Generation, Energy and Machinery in Mozambique.
 Reported to Group CEO (based in Johannesburg, South Africa) with +20 direct reports and a wider team of 140+.

Key Projects & Achievements:
 Led all operations with full P&L responsibility, managed the regional Board and had oversight of all sales and marketing, commercial, technical, finance, planning and customer services.
 Devised client segmentation model which increased outreach to include businesses focused on power generation, agriculture, automotive (spare parts) and construction.
 Led marketing and sales campaign to source new clients following bankruptcy of primary client who represented 95% of revenue.
 Implemented ISO9001 and ISO 14000, both of which were audited with great success.
 Negotiated bank overdrafts down from $1.5M to $0.6M.
 Reduced debt of principal debtor from $3M to > $500K.
 Introduced / managed exclusive brand distribution contracts with Sany Heavy Equipment, LG Air conditioners, Cummins Power, Shantui Construction Machinery, Zoomlion tractors, Wacker Neuson

COUNTRY MANAGER, -Power Generation and Energy at CATERPILLAR - BARLOWORLD GROUP
  • Mozambique
  • August 2012 to July 2014

Southern African and major Caterpillar dealer in Southern Africa, Russia and Iberia, offering earthmoving equipment, industrial services and power systems for mining, construction and industrial sectors.

 Hired on 2-year contract to develop / transform business and build / drive market share, positioning company as leader in earthmoving and other types of equipment, power systems and petroleum.
 Reported to the Executive Director, Power Division & Board of Directors based in Mozambique.
 Reported to MD of the country with 20 direct reports (10 at outset) and wider team of 80.

Key Projects & Achievements:
 Held full responsibility for the P&L as well all the associated commercial, contractual and project management for all the Energy and Power Generation Projects.
 Focused on 3 key major client segments: Engines for Marine, Electrical Power and Oil and Gas.
 Boosted turnover by 30% in first year and 52% in the second.
 Improved Business and Marketing plan by hiring expertise in areas of sales (prime and parts) as well as customer relationships and service.
 Negotiated, signed and managed the contracts (from design) for several 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 manager in the field.

Full time MBA (The Energy MBA) at ISCTE Business School, Lisbon/ Columbia University New York
  • Portugal
  • September 2011 to June 2013

A International presential MBA Program specialized in Energy, Renewables sectors:
Sustainable Development in and the Energy Industry
Strategic Management
Corporate and Project Finance
Marketing Management
Global Management in the Energy Industry
Leadership and Human Resources Management
Logistics and Operation Management
Energy Markets, Technologies and Innovation
Quantitative Models for Managers
Principals of Macroeconomics
Principals of Microeconomics
Management Simulation
Financial Reporting and Control
Energy Policy and Economic Framework
Project Management
RE and EE Systems and Concepts

Core courses: Corporate Finance, Managerial Accounting, Marketing, Leadership, etc

International Sales Director at ATLANCO RIMEC GROUP
  • Ireland
  • January 2010 to September 2011

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

 Hired to develop the business and manage all the contracts / negotiations of large greenfield power plants and generations plants for projects > $50M.
 At the end of the first year in post (December 2010) asked by the CEO to become the General Manager for France as result of success in that market.
 Reported to the Group CEO (based in Dublin) with 11 direct reports (having started with just 1).

Key Projects & Achievements:
 Closed contracts for major deals including the construction of one of the biggest solar photovoltaic power plants in Curbans France (33MW) where we placed 100 highly specialist / skilled staff.
 Agreed contract for The Mo Dyke / Moerdijk- 2 CCGT Power Plant in The Netherlands where we placed 20 blue collar workers.
 Sourced additional contracts for a variety of power generation plants - solar, diesel and / or gas - once the mandate for the build had been approved in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, UK and France; determining all the specific skills required for all the different construction phases.
 Won contract for expansion of refinery in Sines in South Portugal.
 Boosted turnover, recording over €7m in first year (compared with > €1m in 2009).

Business Manager at ANCHOR WALL SYSTEMS, Inc
  • United States
  • January 2004 to October 2009

Anchor Wall Systems is one of the leading developers and licensors of concrete wall systems worldwide.
I joined the company first as a Business Manager in one of their licensees. Having been recognised for ‘making a difference’ across the business and receiving an international award for my achievements in sales and marketing, I was promoted to a key regional role with the Licensor - and appointed Business Development Manager for Portugal, Spain and Egypt in 2007

Education

Master's degree, MBA in Energy and Renewable (The Energy MBA)
  • at COLUMBIA/ISCTE BUSINESS SCHOOL
  • December 2014

THE ENERGY MBA A International MBA Program specialized in Energy sectors http://ibs.iscte.pt/en/programmes/the-energy-mba Energy Regulation, Politics, Energy Markets, Sustainability Development and the Energy Industry, Global Management in Energy Business.

Master's degree, MBA in Energy and Renewables
  • at ISCTE BUSINESS SCHOOL / Columbia SIPA
  • July 2012

full time MBA with coverage of all finance course plus specialization in energy and renewables with coverage of a different range of technologies

Master's degree, Mechanical Engineering
  • at Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • June 2012

Thesis: Concrete Block Manufacturing Techniques and Technologies

Master's degree, Management
  • at Instituto Superior de Gestao
  • February 2012

Specialization: International Business

Diploma, Project Management
  • at Griffith University and ICM Institute of Commercial Management
  • June 2011

Certificate in Project Management

Master's degree, Marketing Management
  • at Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao
  • September 2006

Post Graduation in Marketing Management

Bachelor's degree, Mechanical Engineering
  • at Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • September 1998

5 years Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering

Specialties & Skills

Business Strategy
Business Management
Profit and Loss Management
Strategy
Energy Markets
Proposals Management
Power Plants
Power Generation
Air Compression
Solar Cells
Energy Storage
Equipment Construction
Profit and Loss Management
Shareholders Management
Green Energy
Company Turnaround
Power Generation
Navision
renewables
Team leadership and development
Sustainability
Project Finance
Commercial Management
International Business
project management
contract management
Operational and Strategic Marketing
Relathionship Management
Oil and Gas
Commercial Management
Procurement
Subcontractors Management
Concrete Block Manufacturing
Marketing Management
renewable energy
english
budget management
shareholders reporting
cash optimization
stakeholders Reporting
team motivation
process improvement
parts management
Financial Management

Social Profiles

Personal Website
Personal Website

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Languages

Portuguese
Expert
English
Expert
Spanish
Expert
French
Intermediate

Memberships

International Association of Engineers (IAENG
  • member number 111614
  • February 2011

Training and Certifications

Executive Program: Strategy in Uncertain Times - Columbia Business School CBS New York USA (Certificate)
Date Attended:
April 2021
Executive Program: Turnaround and Restructuring (Training)
Training Institute:
Columbia Business School CBS
Date Attended:
April 2021
Duration:
4 hours
Renewable Energy Project Finance - RENAC Renewables Academy Berlin, Germany (Certificate)
Date Attended:
March 2021
Certificate in Strategic Formulation (Training)
Training Institute:
CBS - Copenhagen Business School & Coursera
Date Attended:
February 2021
Duration:
24 hours
Certificate in Strategic Implementation (Training)
Training Institute:
CBS - Copenhagen Business School & Coursera
Date Attended:
March 2021
Duration:
24 hours
Renewable Energy Project Finance - RENAC Renewables Academy Berlin, Germany (Certificate)
Date Attended:
March 2021
Certificate Smart Cities – Management of Smart Urban Infrastructures (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2020
Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies - Stanford University USA (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2017
Natural Gas (Certificate)
Date Attended:
January 2021
Analyzing Company’s Performance using Ratios (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2020
Discounted Cash Flow Modeling (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2020
Introduction to Valuation with WACC (Certificate)
Date Attended:
December 2020
Introduction to Solar Cells (Training)
Training Institute:
DTU Technical University Denmark
Date Attended:
September 2020
Duration:
15 hours
Certificate Exploring Renewable Energy Schemes, University of Pennsylvania 2020 (Certificate)
Date Attended:
October 2020
Economics of Competing Energy Technologies XEIET201-021 (Training)
Training Institute:
Stanford University
Date Attended:
November 2017
Duration:
20 hours
Caterpillar, Electrical Power Sales and Product Support Manager (Certificate)
Date Attended:
June 2013
Caterpillar, Marine Sales and Product Support Manager (Certificate)
Date Attended:
June 2013
Solar Cells XEIET132-027 (Training)
Training Institute:
Stanford University
Date Attended:
February 2017
Duration:
30 hours
Caterpillar, Petroleum Sales and Product Support Manager (Certificate)
Date Attended:
June 2013
Energy Storage, XEIET139-022 (Training)
Training Institute:
Stanford University
Date Attended:
August 2017
Duration:
30 hours

Hobbies

  • Family and friends
    To become a father to love my family and having loyal friend with 20+ years of joint experiences and fun together.
  • Reading
    I love to read books of historic romance when I have some time available
  • Travelling
    Travelling has been part of my professional life but also something that I love to do in holidays. Being for a couple times na expatriate Iam used to be together with new cultures and to blend.
  • Martial arts
    Black Belt in Taekwondo and created its own Martial art in Personal defense called ADP