Lukasz Michalak

Energy and infrastructure investments, NED, ex-Octopus

London Area, United Kingdom

About

Investment professional with 15+ years of experience across private equity, infrastructure, energy transition, mobility, and technology sectors. Extensive experience in deal sourcing, origination, screening, due diligence, financial modelling, valuation, transaction execution, and post-investment portfolio management. Strong track record across M&A, growth equity, buyouts, and strategic investments. Deep expertise in corporate development, including acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, partnerships, and strategic planning. Experienced in building investment pipelines, leading negotiations, structuring complex transactions, and executing cross-border deals. Proven fund management experience covering fundraising, investor relations (LPs), capital deployment, asset allocation, and investment strategy. Investment Committee member with strong governance, risk management, and decision-making experience. Significant board and portfolio company experience, driving value creation, operational improvement, and exit strategies. Close collaboration with management teams on business transformation, scaling, and performance optimisation. Sector expertise includes energy transition, renewable energy, distributed energy resources (solar, storage/BESS), digital infrastructure, and clean technology. Highly commercial, analytical, and entrepreneurial, with a strong track record of originating and delivering complex international transactions and scalable investment platforms. Enthusiastic AI user.

Experience

  • Deputy Head of Clean Tech at DTEK
    Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

    Corporate Development Building institutional investment channels for Ukraine. Origination, structuring, and execution of European transactions. Distributed energy, technology, services and infrastructure.

  • Octopus (11 yrs 8 mos)
    • Investment Director and Fund Co-head
      Aug 2020 - Sep 2024 · 4 yrs 2 mos

      Leading private equity investments in energy, transport and telecommunication infrastructure. https://institutional.octopusinvestments.com/sustainable-infrastructure/

    • Corporate Development and Principal Financing
      Mar 2018 - Aug 2020 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      Corporate development at Octopus's parent company, focusing on new strategic opportunities and managing existing balance sheet-funded portfolio.

    • Co-Founder, Head of financing
      Jan 2017 - Mar 2018 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Octopus Lifestyles Co-founder of a lending business. Business planning, fundraising, product development.

  • Senior Associate at KPMG Advisory
    Sep 2011 - Jan 2013 · 1 yr 5 mos

    Building transaction, business planning and transformation models in Excel for infrastructure, healthcare and real estate sectors:

  • Arup (4 yrs 1 mo)
    • Transaction Advice Consultant
      Aug 2010 - Sep 2011 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Commercial and technical due diligence

    • Mechanical Engineer
      Sep 2007 - Aug 2010 · 3 yrs

      Working on large UK and overseas projects as a mechanical engineering consultant with a focus on buildings, utilities and renewable energy sources

  • Consultant at Own Venture
    Oct 2006 - Dec 2006 · 3 mos

    Energy audit and financial analysis for retrofit of coal fired plants and buildings.