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Pierre Palmieri, Head of Global Banking and Advisory & Head of Sustainable and Positive Impact Finance - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Pierre Palmieri is appointed Head of Global Banking and Advisory in July 2019.
He was Head of Global Finance since January 2012 and previously Deputy Head of Global Finance, a position he held since April 2008.
Pierre Palmieri began his career at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking in 1987 in the Export Finance department where he became, in 1989, Head of the engineering team. He joined the Agence Internationale’s team in 1994, where he took part to the creation of the Commodity Finance global business line. He was appointed Global Head of Structured Commodity Finance in 2001. In 2006, he created and co-headed the Natural Resources and Energy Financing global business line.
Pierre Palmieri has been a member of Societe Generale Group Management Committee since January 2011.
Pierre Palmieri graduated from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Tours.
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Thierry Déau, Founding Partner, Chief Executive Officer - MERIDIAM
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Thierry Déau founded Meridiam in 2005 with the belief that the alignment of interests between the public and private sector can provide critical solutions to the collective needs of communities.
He is currently Meridiam’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, as well as its main shareholder, along with several members of the team.
Prior to Meridiam, he worked for France’s Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations where he held several positions with its engineering and development subsidiary Egis Projects, moving up from project manager, then director for concession projects to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in 2001.
In addition to being in charge of international operations for the Egis Group executive committee and serving on its risk management committee, Thierry was a member of some of the boards or the chairman of several subsidiaries.
Thierry graduated from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées engineering school in Paris and began his career in Malaysia with the construction firm of GTM International.
Thierry is currently Chairman of the Long Term Infrastructure Investors Association (LTIIA), a board member of Fondation des Ponts, a member of the Investment Committee of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), a member of the Investment Committee of the European Fund for Strategic Investment, Chairman of Archery for Inclusive Leadership and founder of Africa Infrastructure fellowship program Foundation (AIFP Foundation), founding member of the Sustainable Development Investment Partnership (SDIP) of the World Economic Forum, a member of Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets Council for the Commonwealth and President of Finance for Tomorrow, the branch of Paris Europlace promoting green and sustainable finance on an international level.
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Stéphanie Clément de Givry, Global Head of Mining, Metals & Industries Finance - SOCIETE GENERALE
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20+ years in various positions in banking started with 3 years at The Chase Manhattan Bank and followed by 14 years at Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking.
Worked in Latin America (7 years based in Mexico), covered the CIS out of Paris (5 years), Asia (Shanghai 3 years and Hong-Kong 5 years), Current position in Paris with global responsibilities.
Dedicated to Energy and Natural Resources financing for 15+ years with experience in project finance, structured commodity (energy, renewable, oil & gas, metals and mining as well as agricultural products) and mining finance.
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Benoit Lemagnan, Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder - VERKOR
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Benoit Lemaignan is the co-founder and CEO of Verkor, a new venture launched to accelerate the production capacity of low-carbon batteries in Europe, in collaboration with EIT InnoEnergy, the Groupe IDEC, Schneider Electric, Capgemini, Renault Group, EQT Ventures, Arkema, Tokai COBEX, and Demeter FMET. Prior to the launch, EIT InnoEnergy brought Benoit on board to build synergies with the European Battery Alliance.
An aerospace engineer by training, Benoit is a serial entrepreneur. He previously founded and financed Waga Energy in 2015 and Aniah in 2019. He was also Managing Director of OSER ENR from 2015 to 2019 - a public-private partnership supporting the development of renewable projects. Earlier in his career, Benoit was a strategic advisor at Carbone 4 where his passion for energy and climate-related initiatives took root. From his time at Airbus, Benoit retains a strong drive for innovation and teamwork.
Benoit is a highly experienced investor and entrepreneur in energy and climate transition. He is the co-founder and CEO of Verkor, a new venture launched to accelerate the production capacity of low-carbon batteries in Europe, in collaboration with EIT InnoEnergy, the Groupe IDEC, Schneider Electric, Capgemini, Renault Group, EQT Ventures, Arkema, Tokai COBEX, and Demeter FMET.
Prior to the launch, EIT InnoEnergy brought Benoit on board to build synergies with the European Battery Alliance.
Verkor will open its Verkor Innovation Centre in Grenoble by the end of 2022. It will be the base of the company’s future headquarters and will accommodate a pilot line for battery cell manufacturing, a R&D centre, testing facilities, module prototyping, and provide training for a new generation of engineers and technicians.
Verkor’s first Gigafactory is due to construction in 2024 with an annual capacity of 16GWh of battery cells.
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Amir Sharifi, Managing Director – Energy Transition Lead - ARDIAN
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Amir joined Ardian in 2007. He is Managing Director of Ardian’s Infrastructure Group, lead for Energy Transition. He has led the development of the Ardian franchise in the renewable energy sector and is now heading the Ardian task force on Hydrogen.
Ardian today holds investments in renewable energy production representing 7.5GW of installed capacity, as well as midstream and mobility assets across Europe and Americas.
Amir is also founder of the Ardian Foundation which he initiated in 2010. The Ardian Foundation aims at creating better social mobility in Europe, North America and Asia.
He previously was Head of Corporate Development and Communications of Ardian and worked for 5 years as a strategy consultant in the energy sector.
Amir graduated from Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) and followed the advanced valuation programme at INSEAD. He can interact in seven languages (French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and Persian).
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Mark Dixon, Shareholder / Director - CERULEAN WINDS
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Yasmine Djeddai, Head of Sustainable Finance, Asia Pacific - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Yasmine is based in Hong Kong and has the mandate to support sustainable deal origination across Asia Pacific region through originating mainstream sustainable financing, leveraging on our impact structuring expertise; as well as supporting our clients with structuring and advisory to accelerate the development of innovative solutions and new business models that deliver positive impact with scale up potential. Prior to that, Yasmine headed SG’s Export Finance team in London where she led a number of ECA project financing and advisory mandates.
Yasmine has more than 16 years of solid international banking experience in structured finance and advisory notably in both the natural resources and export finance businesses. She has been involved in numerous Green, Social and Sustainability-Linked financing across the region and asset classes.
Yasmine holds a Master in Management from Institut des Mines - Telecom Business School, Paris. More recently, she was certified by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS) with the CESGA certification (Certified Environmental Social Governance Analyst).
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Michelle Main, Sustainability Manager - KIWI RAIL
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Michelle Main is the Sustainability Manager at KiwiRail where she manages the delivery of KiwiRail’s sustainability programme and influences sustainability outcomes across the business. Her primary focus is identifying opportunities in partnership with the business to reduce KiwiRail’s carbon footprint. With a range of experience across different contexts, Michelle has a genuine passion for sustainability and her role with KiwiRail is fundamental in supporting New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions future.
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Gwenael Delattre, Director, Head of Shipping & Offshore Asia Pacific, Hong Kong - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Gwenael joined Societe Generale in 2015 in London, and he has been working in the Shipping & Offshore Finance team in Hong Kong since 2017. He has over 14 years of experience in the shipping finance industry. He has been involved in high profile debt, advisory and restructuring mandates to finance many shipping asset classes under various innovative structures, including sustainable and green ship financings.
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Brian Robertson, Senior Certification Manager - CLIMATE BOND INITIATIVE
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As the Senior Certification Manager of the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), Brian works the certification desk and contributes to special developmental projects. Since 2005 Brian has worked in green finance, economics and sustainability research, greenhouse-gas accounting and auditing, and in energy and emissions trading. Brian is also a university lecturer and has a PhD in economics from the University of Oldenburg (Germany).
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Richad Soundardjee, Chief Executive Officer, Societe Generale Middle East & Egypt - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Richad joined Societe Generale in 1994. Until 2002, he built an equity capital markets expertise through various senior positions covering a wide range of large clients in France, South East Asia and Northern Europe.
In 2003, he joined Societe Generale’s bond syndication department to head up the global private placement activity, which he developed and expanded as a leading platform in various underlyings and geographies, with a strong focus on emerging markets.
In 2009 Richad was appointed Head of Global Capital Markets for the CEEMEA region, and during his four years tenure he drove the expansion of the group’s franchise in both equity and debt capital markets in this region, with a specific focus on the Middle East region.
In October 2013, Richad was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East and Egypt region. As part of an ambitious growth plan that he took responsibility for, the regional footprint of the SG group in the Corporate & Investment Banking Solutions expanded significantly across its major strengths in particular in structured financing, investment banking, global markets, and trade finance.
Richad Soundardjee holds an MSc in International Finance from HEC Business School, a Master degree from the National Institute of Telecommunications and a Master of Management degree from Paris Dauphine University.
Besides his professional responsibilities for the SG group, Richad is actively involved in civil society endeavors in the Middle East region through various senior positions on several Boards such as the Global Compact local network UAE, the French Foreign Trade Advisory Board for the UAE, the RFI Foundation a global think tank for responsible finance.
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Zulfiqar Khan, Senior Banker, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Coverage, Societe Generale Middle East - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Zulfiqar Khan has over 17 years of experience in investment banking and strategic advisory. He presently runs Corporate Coverage for Societe Generale corporate and investment bank in the Middle East. Prior to this, Zulfiqar worked at various top tier investment banks including Deutsche Bank and Barclays Capital in the Middle East, and Credit Suisse in New York. His career has focused around Corporate Finance, Debt Capital Markets, M&A and strategic capital raising, as well as debt restructuring. Zulfiqar has assisted clients in various sectors including oil and gas, infrastructure, telecommunications and sovereign wealth funds. Zulfiqar has a Bachelor in arts and Bachelor in Engineering from Darmouth College in the US and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
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Dr. Salim Al Huthaili, Chief Executive Officer Alternative Energy - OQ (Oman Oil Company)
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Dr. Salim Al Huthaili has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer - Alternative Energy in November 2020.
Al Huthaili was the CEO of DRPIC, a position he has successfully held since December 2018. He brings extensive global leadership experience gained from working with Shell in various roles, including alternative energy, projects, technology and petrochemicals in Europe and the MENA region. Al Huthaili was also the CEO of OXEA between 2015 and 2018 (now OQ Chemicals), and most recently with DRPIC as its CEO. He holds a Ph.D. in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development from Nottingham University, U.K.
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Niall Hannigan, Chief Financial Officer - MASDAR
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In his capacity as Chief Financial Officer of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, Niall Hannigan brings to the CFO role more than 30 years’ experience in accounting, auditing, financial management, risk management, business and financial strategy, financing, commercial negotiation and business development. He is a qualified chartered accountant and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. Having worked in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and on the Indian subcontinent, Mr Hannigan has strong international and multicultural experience, and thrives on working in diverse geographies and marketplaces. He is a business-focused finance executive with a strategic mindset and a commercial outlook, having developed his skills across a variety of sectors, including renewable energy, real-estate development and services, asset management, and manufacturing sales and distribution. Prior to joining Masdar, Mr. Hannigan served as CFO for Zabeel Properties from 2008 to 2010 and was responsible for advising the board on the medium to long-term development strategy, including asset positioning, funding, development phasing, optimal development mix (across asset classes and income streams), and asset disposition strategies. He also directed business development, risk management and commercial asset management activities, while heading key commercial and financial negotiations on behalf of the company. Mr. Hannigan was the regional CFO for Emaar Properties from 2005 to 2008. He managed the financial and risk management of the company’s international real-estate development operations throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. In addition to his role in Masdar, Mr Hannigan serves on several Masdar-related boards, including Masdar Energy UK Limited; Masdar Offshore Wind UK Limited; Masdar Offshore Wind Scotland Limited; Masdar Energy B.V. (MEBV) Holland; Masdar Solar & Wind Cooperatief U.A. (MSWC) Holland; Jordan Wind Project Company PSC (Tafila); Baynouna Solar Energy Company (BSEC) Jordan, and Tesla Wind (WEBG), Serbia, Krnovo Green Energy D.O.O (KGE) Montenegro; Emirates Solar Power Company LLC; Masdar City Services LLC; Masdar Energy Holding LLC; Masdar Energy Limited; and Masdar Holding LLC.
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Paddy Padmanathan, President & Chief Executive Officer - ACWA POWER
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Paddy Padmanathan serves as the President and CEO of ACWA Power since 2007. He is a key member of ACWA Power’s executive leadership team, having spearheaded its expansion since 2005 when he joined the company as a Business Development Director.
A seasoned engineering and energy expert with over 40 years of experience, Mr. Padmanathan helped ACWA Power go from strength to strength to become a company that today has a vast portfolio in various high-growth markets across three continents. At ACWA Power, he has guided the business strategy to deliver power and desalinated water reliably and responsibly at competitive rates. He is also steering ACWA Power’s leadership in energy transition, underpinned by a strong ESG framework, enabling it to be part of one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world.
Prior to joining ACWA Power, Mr. Padmanathan served as the Vice President and Corporate Officer at Black and Veatch, a major global engineering and construction company, where he was responsible for developing privately financed power, water, and wastewater projects in over a dozen countries.
Mr. Padmanathan holds a degree in engineering from the University of Manchester, a postgraduate qualification in Civil Engineering production from University of Lancaster and serves on the boards of several water and power companies.
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David Schimel, Senior Research Scientist, Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work as the IPPC Convening Lead Author - NASA JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
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Dr. Schimel is a Senior Research Scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has spent the last 30+ years working in top research positions and leadership roles with extensive experience in carbon cycle climate interactions and global climate modeling. Dr. Schimel received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work as the IPPC Convening Lead Author. Dr. Schimel is a graduate of Hampshire College (B.A.) and Colorado State University (PhD).
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Marc Zaffran, Managing Director, Head of FIG UK Coverage Bankers, Senior Banker to Asset Managers - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Marc Zaffran started his career at Societe Generale in 2002, working in various sales producer, banking and managerial roles in Capital Markets.
Prior to coordinating the FX and EM sales activity as Global Head of Forex and Emerging Markets Investors Sales, he covered clients across Switzerland, Benelux, Nordics and CEEMEA.
He was responsible for developing the European Financial Institution Forex and EM sales desk, assembling a coverage team and onboarding key clients, asset managers in particular.
In 2018, Marc joined SG FIG division as Senior Relationship Manager dedicated to strategic global asset managers.
He was later given the responsibility of SG FIG UK Coverage SRMs/Bankers Team and appointed Senior Banker to Asset Managers in the UK in 2020.
Marc holds an MBA from W. P. Carey School of Business in Arizona, as well as Bachelor & Master degrees in Econometrics and Finance from Toulouse School of Economics and Toulouse Business School.
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Deia Markova, Head of Trade Commodity Finance Switzerland and in charge of the sustainability roadmap at SG Switzerland - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Deia is an investment banking professional with more than 20 years international business experience in Paris, Geneva and Zurich. She started her career at Societe Generale in Paris in the Corporate Finance Advisory’s department and joined later the Structured Commodity Finance team, where she focused on Metals & Mining producers in Russia and the CIS. From 2014 to 2017, Deia headed the corporate lending business of Sberbank (Switzerland), with a focus on commodity producers and traders. Then Deia joined SG Zurich in 2018 where she developed and promoted new financing solutions aimed at the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, using impact-based business models and digitalization to reduce the cost-to-impact while creating long term value for all stakeholders.
Since 2020, Deia Markova supervises the Trade Commodity Finance activity in Switzerland. Additionally, given her expertise in sustainable and positive impact finance, Deia continues to be actively involved in the implementation of Societe Generale’s sustainability roadmap in the country.
Deia holds a Master of Science in Finance from Panthéon-Assas University Paris and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Business Law from University of St. Gallen.
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Julien Chassaing, Head of Treasury & Financing - IXM
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Julien Chassaing is the Head of Treasury & Financing of IXM. He earned his Master’s degree in Finance from Edhec Business School (France) in 2000.
Julien worked at Société Générale for 8 years in Structured Finance for real estate, commodity and export sectors.
He joined Louis Dreyfus Company in 2013 to be in charge of the Structured Finance and Project Financing for Europe, supporting the Business Development and M&A team.
He joined the Metals Platform in 2015 to be in charge of Treasury.
He is based in Geneva, Switzerland
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Adam Hearne, CEO and co-founder - CARBONCHAIN.COM
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Adam Hearne is the CEO and co-founder of CarbonChain.com, which is a startup that automates carbon accounting for supply chains. Adam has been a mover of physical goods for as long as he can remember.
From moving millions of tons of ore around the world at Rio Tinto, to helping Jeff Bezos move millions of parcels at Amazon as the supply chain manager for 8 countries.
He graduated with honours from Queensland University of Technology in Australia and has an MBA from London Business School.
As the CEO of CarbonChain.com he helps some of the world's most impact minded organisations accelerate their ambitions for reducing carbon emissions in global supply chains.
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Andreas Schmitz, Director and COO - CONCORD RESOURCES LIMITED
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Director and COO at Concord Resources Limited, a company Andreas co-founded in 2015.
Andreas was previously Director Asset Strategy at Noble Group’s Base Metal Division, based in London.
Prior to joining Noble, he was Vice President Metals & Mining at BNP Paribas Corporate and Investment Bank in London.
Andreas started his career in early 2007 at BNP Paribas Corporate and Investment Bank in Paris.
Andreas graduated from Maastricht University in 2006 (MSc International Business).
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Marie-Laure Gastellu, Head of Trade Finance - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Marie-Laure Gastellu is Head of Trade Services. Engaged in the transformation of trade finance, she is an executive banker with 30 years of experience in banking, transformation, innovation and management of large French and international teams.
Marie-Laure joins Societe Generale in 1989 within the internal consulting department. In 1994, she takes responsibility for a portfolio of corporate clients in Paris and then in New York, and runs SG Americas’ Marketing division from 2001 to 2004.
Until 2006, Marie-Laure is Global COO of Societe Generale’s division for corporate clients and investors, and then Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO Daniel Bouton between 2006 and 2009.
Her return to the client segment takes her to southern Paris as Regional Head for the Yvelines region until 2013 and then as Managing Director of the Paris Rive-Gauche Corporate business center.
In November 2016, Marie-Laure becomes Deputy Head of Societe Generale’s Trade Services division before becoming Head of Trade Services in June 2020.
Marie-Laure is a graduate of the ESLSCA business school.
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Sébastien Halley Des Fontaines, Head of Structured Trade Finance - SOCIETE GENERALE
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Sébastien started his career in Societe Generale in 1999 in the Commodities Division of Societe Generale Corporate Investment Banking.
He then joined the Commodity Structured Trade Finance department in 2004, where he has been handling several front office positions in the origination, structuring and coverage areas in several sectors (oil / metal & mining / soft commodities) in emerging markets.
In 2013, he was appointed Head of Structured Trade Finance of the Global Transaction Banking Division, in charge of promoting a growing franchise of structured solutions for both Corporates and Financial Institutions.
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Gonzalo Onzain Larrazaba, Head of Capital Markets & Bank Relations - SIEMENS GAMESA
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Born 1974 in Bilbao, Spain
Studied business at Deusto University (Bilbao, Spain) and WHU Koblenz (Germany)
1998 Started carrier in banking at The Chase Manhattan Bank in the Corporate Finance & M&A team
2001 joined Gamesa (now Siemens Gamesa) to lead Investor Relations Group
2006 lead M&A function at Gamesa
2012 was Global Sales Director Wind Farms in Gamesa
2013 moved to Philadelphia, PA to become VP for Sales & Marketing in North America
2017 returned to Spain to lead Windfarm development and sales business
2019 started as Head of Capital Markets & Trade Finance. In this funcition (the current one) I coordinate SGRE’s global interaction with financial institutions and rating agencies as well as being responsible for Trade Finance (bank guarantees issued to our clients in the regular course of business) and Structured Finance (support to our clients in raising financing for the purchase of our equipment)
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Stefano Scudiere, Head of Trade Finance - ENEL GROUP
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Born in Naples in 1972
Graduated in Economics and Business Management in Naples at the University “Federico II” in 1995
Chartered Accountant since 1996
Accounting auditor since 1999
Manager with more than 20 years of finance experience maturated in Enel Group both in Treasury of Enel Global Trading; and in the Treasury of Enel Spa.
Head of Trade Finance of Enel Group since 2017 - Specialized in wide portfolio of Trade Finance products with extensive experience in dealing with more than 30 counterparts (Banks and insurances) and managing the needs of more than 40 subsidiaries both nationally and internationally
Enel delegate within Institutional working groups INPS, Confindustria, Environmental Minister
Statutory auditor for FISDE (health fund for Enel Group employees) and FOPEN (additional pension fund for Enel Group employees).
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