Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
Senior Director with 20-year experience shaping growth and transformation in the energy and critical infrastructure space. I bring a proven track record in international business & project development, having successfully negotiated over €1b in orders and led teams with full P&L accountability across complex, international projects (€250m). Throughout my career, I have launched new solutions and business ventures in highly regulated markets, from developing innovative digital platforms at GE to creating and scaling new business such as WindGrid (Transmission developer at Elia Group) and EKZ Mobility (corporate start-up in EV charging). My leadership style combines: • An entrepreneurial mindset, navigating uncertainty and driving opportunities from concept to execution. • Strategic vision with hands-on delivery, underpinned by deep knowledge of the energy and infrastructure sectors. • A commitment to building and empowering teams, fostering positive collaboration, and helping individuals reach their full potential. • A broad international network across utilities, investors, policymakers, and technology partners in Europe and beyond. Passionate about advancing the energy transition, I thrive at the intersection of business development, corporate strategy, and innovation, helping organizations deliver sustainable growth at scale.
WindGrid is a platform, owned by ELIA Group, that develops, builds, finances and operates offshore & HVDC transmission infrastructures (interconnections, hybrids, offshore wind/renewable transmission connection) in Europe and the US. My role consists in building a portfolio of transmission projects through origination and M&A, and ensure development of the infrastructures: - Led origination team responsible for market/regulatory analysis, partnership development, opportunity screening, proposal development, contract negotiation and deal closing. - Led project development team in charge of project planning, regulatory approvals, technical design, environmental consents, procurement and project financing to enable construction readiness. - Engage with governments, policy developers, utilities, financial partners, etc leadership to support infrastructures development - Seek approvals from the Board and ICs for business plan and investment decision Key achievements: ⬥ Built a multi-disciplinary team of 17 employees across Europe (incl the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Med Sea) to deliver WindGrid business plan ⬥ Developed a pipeline of 3 major offshore transmission projects, including greenfield interconnector development and acquisition of participation in projects with partners (total CAPEX est. > 7b€) ⬥ Led US market entry strategy, setting up partnerships with 2 large US utilities, establishing WindGrid local presence and co-developing first joint proposals for RTOs (New-Jersey, New-York, New-England)
Leading revenue growth for Digital Transformation and Renewable Integration Solutions in Europe: - Translated regulatory, technology, and competitive trends into Go-to-Market strategies - Coached key accounts/sales channels to introduce new solutions and expand revenues with customers - Engaged with C-level leaders to identify strategic priorities and address critical business challenges - Built strategic alliances with start-ups, SMEs, and financial institutions to enhance GE’s offering - Developed new solution offerings by combining multiple technologies with innovative business models (e.g., performance contracting, “as-a-Service” models, leasing services) Key achievements: ⬥ 69m€ new opportunities originated across 2y, ~65% converted into orders ➜ Digital solutions include Digital Substations, Asset Health/Performance Management, Drones inspection and imagery analytics, energy management solutions (EMS) for energy-intensive industries ➜ Renewable integration solutions include Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), DERMS, Microgrids ➜ Customer focus: Utilities, Grid operators (TSO/DSO), electro-intensive industries (Mining, Chemical, Steel, etc)
Driving international corporate development at ELIA Group (inorganic growth): - Designed and executed business development strategies through market and competitive assessments, in line with corporate investment objectives - Identified and negotiated strategic partnerships to enhance ELIA Group international value proposition - Led cross-functional teams in developing proposals, conducting due diligence, and securing opportunities - Presented investment opportunities to the Elia Group Board and Investment Committee for approval Key achievements: ⬥ Led the first investment proposal of ELIA Group for a 30y concession including design, construction, financing and operation of 2 HVDC offshore interconnections (~$3b CAPEX) in Middle-East with local partner, OEMs and off-taker. ⬥ Prepared business plan to create a new company, WindGrid, with mission to invest and develop international transmission projects (greenfield). Board approved new company creation in July 2021
Developed and launched a new business venture with EKZ CTO to commercialize EV charging "As a Service" for multi-tenant housing (marketing & sales strategy, staffing requirement, business plan, etc) ⬥Business Plan was approved by CEO/CFO and appointed team successfully delivered year 1 as per plan ⬥Executive MBA Capstone project @INSEAD validated with distinction
- Managed HVDC commercial organization (~10 bid managers and 25 engineers), accountable for $600M annual order intake. - Negotiated multi-billion-dollar transmission projects worldwide (onshore, offshore, interconnectors). - Secured $1.3B in HVDC deals within two years and introduced new STATCOM technology to market. - Streamlined global tendering process, improving margin protection and execution discipline.