Pioneer Point Partners LLP, the sustainable infrastructure investment firm, announces the appointment of three industry experts to its Advisory Board, bringing the total to seven. Their experience ranges across the full spectrum of the energy transition and environment space.
In addition, Pioneer has strengthened its team with four key appointments, including three investment professionals and one finance professional, who will support the continuing growth of the Company.
Pioneer has made a number of successful investments into a wide range of sustainable assets and these highly experienced industry experts and investment professionals will support its ambitious growth targets as the Firm continues to identify investment opportunities that will support Europe’s decarbonisation targets.
Industry hires to Pioneer’s Advisory Board are:
Leif Zierz has 23 years’ experience in M&A and restructuring for companies in the energy sector, most recently as Managing Partner and Global Head of Deal Advisory at KPMG, a division with 13,000 employees. Leif was a partner at KPMG for 24 years and throughout his time there had a strong focus on the energy and environment sectors in Germany, where he has built a network and reputation of great value to Pioneer. Leif will support Pioneer as a Senior Advisor with his expertise, focusing on Energy M&A and strategic advisory, particularly in the German market.
Ole Hvelplund was until recently the CEO of previous Pioneer portfolio company Nature Energy. Ole joined Nature Energy as CEO in 2013 and was instrumental in growing the business into the European market leader which was sold to Shell for €2 billion in 2023. Ole brings with him decades of experience in the circular economy sectors which is where his focus will be with Pioneer going forwards. He has also joined the Board of Pioneer portfolio company Seras.
Michele Appendino is a highly successful serial entrepreneur/investor in the European energy sector. Known to Pioneer for decades, Michele is the controlling shareholder of European solar developer Solar Ventures which was a key partner for previous Pioneer portfolio company Sistema Rinnovabili. Michele brings with him decades of experience as an investor and executive in the European energy transition sectors which is where his focus will be with Pioneer.
Pioneer team hires include:
Alberto de Pieri, who joins as an investment professional from Bank of America where he focused on the natural resources and energy transition sectors. Prior to this, Alberto was an investment banking analyst at Deutsche Bank where, among other significant transactions, he advised Investindustrial Acquisition Corp. on the $3.1 billion business combination with Ermenegildo Zegna.
Genevieve Leclerq joins as an investment professional from Rothschild & Co, where she worked in the infrastructure team with a focus on European utilities and the energy transition and worked on significant M&A transactions and also in a debt advisory capacity.
Jonas Thyregod Wilcks joins as an investment professional with a focus on the team’s thematic research. Jonas has a background in macro research including roles at Horizon Group, the OECD and the Centre for the Study of Democracy. He has achieved Level 1 CFA.
In addition, and to support the growth trajectory of the business, Tinotenda Dhliwayo joins as a senior finance analyst from Langham Hall, where she worked in the real estate and private equity team as a fund accountant. She trained at PwC and is a chartered accountant (SAICA).