Bernard van Haeringen

Business Development at African Clean Energy

The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

About

I bring twelve years of experience across sustainable impact ventures, the energy transition, and international shipping, with a focus on business development, sales, and project management. I thrive in roles with diverse responsibilities in international environments. Calm under pressure, flexible, and versatile, I focus on execution while adapting quickly. Inspired by adventure and nature, and known for my humor and positive energy, I act as a spark plug in teams that value purpose, collaboration, and progress over perfection.

Experience

  • Impact Project Manager at Doers
    Jan 2025 - Dec 2025 · 1 yr

    Deployment to African Clean Energy (ACE) to maximise positive change.

  • Business Development Manager at African Clean Energy (ACE)
    Jan 2025 - Dec 2025 · 1 yr

    - Starting up end-to-end operations for new market entry of clean cookstoves in Senegal, from supply chain and micro-financing models to sales distribution. - Overseeing market entry and product pricing strategy, ensuring affordability and competitiveness. - Building and managing the local team, from hiring and training to daily leadership.

  • GoodFuels (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands)
    • Business Development Manager
      Feb 2024 - Dec 2024 · 11 mos

      - Pioneered the development of a new business area by launching the company’s solid biomass proposition. - Focused on commercial strategy, sales leadership, and market fit validation to establish a strong foundation for long-term growth. - Introduced innovative sustainable feedstocks (e.g. alien invasive species, cashew nut waste) to a conservative biomass industry.

    • Commercial Lead
      Mar 2021 - Feb 2024 · 3 yrs

      - Drove market entry for sustainable liquid biofuels in a highly conservative industry by building trust and shaping the biofuel sector from the ground up. - Developed and implemented the sales strategy, acting as the operational lead for the sales team to ensure consistent execution. - Owned relationships with the largest key accounts, ensuring successful conversion from fossil fuels to biofuels through consultative selling. - Connected all moving parts — operational, technical, legal, financial, and pricing — to steer complex sales journeys.

  • Svitzer (On-site)
    • Commercial Manager Americas
      May 2017 - Jul 2020 · 3 yrs 3 mos

      - Built strong, long-term relationships with shipowners and introduced innovative “roadside assistance” salvage contracts. - Secured salvage contracts under high-pressure conditions during emergencies. - Acted as on-site commercial project manager during international salvage operations. - Maintained a global subcontractor network to ensure rapid response capability worldwide.

    • Commercial Manager Europe & Asia
      Nov 2013 - May 2017 · 3 yrs 7 mos

      Including a half-year secondment to the Singapore office.

  • Intern Marketing at Vrumona | Heineken
    Apr 2013 - Sep 2013 · 6 mos