Knut A. Karlsen

Industrial CEO & Board Chair | Bioenergy • Fertilisers • Agriculture

Steinhausen, Zug, Switzerland

About

I am an industrial operator and board chair with more than 15 years of experience leading capital-intensive businesses in fertilisers, agriculture and bioenergy. I have spent my career running production companies in regulated, asset-heavy environments, with responsibility for performance, people, capital allocation and growth. I have served as President of Yara Brasil and CEO of Umoe Bioenergy, and currently chair Atlas Agro and Umoe Bioenergy. My work is centred on industrial businesses at moments of transition: scaling across markets, improving asset performance, strengthening governance, professionalising leadership, or preparing for institutional ownership. I work with boards, owners and management teams across Europe and the Americas, combining hands-on operating experience with board-level oversight in businesses where execution quality matters. Based in Switzerland.

Experience

  • Umoe BioEnergy (São Paulo, Brazil)
    • Chair & Advisor
      Jun 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 1 mo

      Supporting the Board and owner on governance, strategy, and capital discipline. Providing leadership continuity following CEO tenure and advising on long-term value creation in a capital-intensive bioenergy platform.

    • Chief Executive Officer
      May 2013 - May 2022 · 9 yrs 1 mo

      Led the transformation of an ethanol and bioenergy producer from bottom-quartile to first-quartile performance. Reset strategy and operating model, reduced costs, improved asset productivity, and installed a performance culture across agricultural and industrial operations.

  • Atlas Agro (4 yrs 9 mos)
    • Chair
      Oct 2021 - Present · 4 yrs 9 mos

      Providing governance and strategic oversight for a green hydrogen–based fertiliser platform with institutional shareholders. Leading shareholder engagement and long-term strategic development at the board level.

    • Founder and CEO Brazil
      Jun 2022 - Jul 2025 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      Built Brazilian platform from concept to late-stage readiness: secured renewable energy partnership, land, and anchor offtakes. Developed financing pathways with institutional investors; recruited and led senior team.

  • Member of the Governance Board at Copersucar S.A.
    May 2013 - Jun 2022 · 9 yrs 2 mos

    Served on the governance board of Copersucar, the world’s largest sugar and ethanol cooperative, advising on corporate strategy, governance, and risk during a period of sector transition.

  • President, Yara Brazil at Yara Brasil
    Jun 2009 - Aug 2012 · 3 yrs 3 mos

    Revamped strategy and reversed losses to record profitability through product consolidation, plant optimisation, and strengthened risk controls. Restored market leadership across a national fertilisers and agricultural inputs footprint.

  • Partner at PwC
    Oct 2005 - May 2009 · 3 yrs 8 mos

    Led multi-country transformation programs across industrial, technology, and telecom sectors. Built C-suite relationships and delivered strategy, governance, and performance-improvement initiatives in complex organisations.