Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Personal Information
Professional Highlights
Timeline
João Miguel Ferreira

João Miguel Ferreira

Managing Director
Lisbon,11

Summary

Internationally experienced Managing Director, partnering with C-Suite / Boards to drive strategy, and performance for $10-$100m businesses in the Renewable Energy, Power Generation and Telecoms infrastructure sectors in Latin America, Africa, and Europe. Key strengths include executing game changing strategies and turnarounds, driving revenue growth through new channel exploitation, and improving profitability/EBITDA through Operational Excellence and continuous processes and KPI's improvement.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Regional Country Director

Engie Access
02.2023 - Current
  • Company Overview: ENGIE Energy Access is the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) and solar mini-grids solutions provider in Africa.
  • Responsible for the Management of Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambican businesses (5 entities), P&L and strategy and providing leadership to the Region to 3 Country Directors and by being a Senior Member of the Board of Directors with Stakeholder Engagement.
  • Leading the development of PV projects in partnerships with funding facilities (Grants), partnerships and private investors in a structure and profitable manner from Financing to execution and Commissioning.
  • ENGIE Energy Access is the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) and solar mini-grids solutions provider in Africa.

General Manager Project EPC

Voith Hydro, GMBH
09.2022 - 01.2025
  • Company Overview: 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 to implement turnaround and transformation in their biggest EPC Hydropower construction, leading Engineering, Procurement, Logistics, Site Operations, HSE, Claim, Schedule and Contract Management and reporting to the leading project consultant based in Switzerland and to all stakeholders of the project.
  • Lead an international team of 30+ engineers in Germany and 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 and claim strategy.
  • Global technology company in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport.

Regional Managing Director LATAM

Camusat International
Panama City
04.2018 - 08.2022
  • Company Overview: Camusat International is a leader in designing, building telecom infrastructures and ESCO-Energy Savings.
  • 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.
  • Camusat International is a leader in designing, building telecom infrastructures and ESCO-Energy Savings.

European Manager B2B Retail

Sullair, LLC (GROUP HITACHI)
Michigan
03.2017 - 04.2018
  • Company Overview: 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, designing the European Business plan.
  • Reported to Vice-President of International Business.
  • 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.
  • Hitachi-owned (since 2017) world-leading major manufacturer of air compressors for industrial and O&G.

Managing Director

Group Tesuco - Diesel Electrica
08.2014 - 02.2017
  • Company Overview: 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 company Strategy, reporting to Group CEO with +20 direct reports and 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 and ISO 14000, both of which were audited with great success and negotiated bank overdrafts down from $1.5M to $0.6M 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.
  • South African private company, part of the international Group Tesuco (known as African Bosch dealer).

Country Manager (2-year contract)

Barloworld / Caterpillar
07.2012 - 07.2014
  • Company Overview: 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 cash flow.
  • 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.
  • Barloworld Group is a major Caterpillar dealer in Southern Africa, Russia and Iberia.

Director of Sales - International Business

Atlanco Rimec Group
01.2010 - 09.2011
  • Company Overview: 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.
  • 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 plants 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.
  • Provider of outsourced labour for construction, M&E and Power Generation projects across Europe.

Business Manager

Anchor Wall Systems Inc
02.2004 - 11.2009
  • Company Overview: Industrial concrete block solutions for retaining wall industry providing structural engineering solutions.
  • After 10 years of stagnant growth within Anchor Wall licenses business I was hired to transform and grow.
  • Designed and implemented the strategy targeting the B2C and B2B segments.
  • Awarded 'On track' recognition for revenue growth and achievements in Sales and Marketing in the US and hired by licensor.
  • Grown a business from 200 000 usd to 3 million in 3 years at their Portuguese Licensee.
  • Industrial concrete block solutions for retaining wall industry providing structural engineering solutions.

Business and Project Manager M&E

Apamilux SA
02.2000 - 01.2004

Education

Certification in Business Excellence - Business And Finance

Columbia Business School, New York
12.2025

MBA - Business Administration And Management

ISCTE Business School Lisbon / Columbia Sipa New Y, Lisbon, New York
07.2013

Columbia SIPA, NY, USA

MSc. Management - International Business

Instituto Superior Gestão

MSc. - Mechanical Engineering

Universidade Nova Lisboa
Technology Faculty

Certificate in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies - undefined

Stanford University

Certificate in Renewable Energy Project Finance - undefined

RENAC Renewables Academy
online

Skills

P&L Management

Personal Information

  • EU (self)
  • Brazilian (by marriage)
  • Nationality: Brazilian

Professional Highlights

  • Business Turnaround, At Camusat International, led turnaround across LATAM, restructured and optimized operations; made strategic acquisition; implemented strategy of continuous improvement; grew workforce from 100+ to 700+. Delivered substantial growth in EBITDA, Cash and implemented Operational KPI's and performance goals, being rewarded with equity position and named a talent by the President.
  • Business Growth, At Group Tesuco, redefined business strategy to find new customers following bankruptcy of major client which represented 95% of annual revenues. Led recovery, negotiated overdrafts with banks, won new exclusive and non-exclusive distribution dealerships. Succeeded in keeping company driving forward, fulfilling obligations to all stakeholders and Funding facilities.
  • Strategy Change, At Caterpillar/Barloworld, created new business strategy for the OEM's Oil & Gas, Elect. Power and Marine markets successfully grew sales, EBITDA and signed significant EPC contracts.
  • Energy sector leader, Extensive and practical leadership experience of a multitude of diverse energy and power generation technologies, within international markets. Supplemented, academically, at leading business schools in both Business, Leadership, Finance, Strategy, Renewables and Energy.

Timeline

Regional Country Director - Engie Access
02.2023 - Current
General Manager Project EPC - Voith Hydro, GMBH
09.2022 - 01.2025
Regional Managing Director LATAM - Camusat International
04.2018 - 08.2022
European Manager B2B Retail - Sullair, LLC (GROUP HITACHI)
03.2017 - 04.2018
Managing Director - Group Tesuco - Diesel Electrica
08.2014 - 02.2017
Country Manager (2-year contract) - Barloworld / Caterpillar
07.2012 - 07.2014
Director of Sales - International Business - Atlanco Rimec Group
01.2010 - 09.2011
Business Manager - Anchor Wall Systems Inc
02.2004 - 11.2009
Business and Project Manager M&E - Apamilux SA
02.2000 - 01.2004
Instituto Superior Gestão - MSc. Management, International Business
Universidade Nova Lisboa - MSc., Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University - Certificate in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies,
RENAC Renewables Academy - Certificate in Renewable Energy Project Finance,
Columbia Business School - Certification in Business Excellence, Business And Finance
ISCTE Business School Lisbon / Columbia Sipa New Y - MBA, Business Administration And Management

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João Miguel FerreiraManaging Director