Experience
In addition to being an intuitive businessman, Hans-Joachim Kohlsdorf believes in improving all peoples’ quality of life, whether it’s through the ease of mobility, supporting social inclusion for those less privileged or by providing access to affordable energy. After the Mexican energy sector transitioned to a more open electricity market to accommodate for technological changes like Distributed Generation and Smart Grids Hans, together with some experienced partners founded Energy to Market, E2M, one of the first wholesale electricity suppliers, trader and service provider. As a managing partner of Advisory Board Architects, he advises boards of directors and advisory boards of large corporations, family-owned businesses and private equity firms. They are proud to be the first worldwide company that is exclusively focused on designing, building, implementing and evaluating boards transforming them into high impact boards that strategically support the management.
Hans has helped many companies by serving on boards. He is president of the board of directors of Grupo Construlita, the largest lighting company in Mexico, specializing in innovative technology and lighting solutions. He was also an operating partner at private equity investors
Advent International, one of the most well-renowned private equity investors in the world. He serves on the Board of ADO, a global mobility company focused on improving the quality of life in urban areas and regional transportation, and NATGAS, a company that helps to significantly reduce pollution in urban areas by replacing Diesel and Gasoline with now abundant and clean natural gas. Natgas is owned by the private equity fund Northgate Capital and a group of brilliant and innovative businessmen. He was on the board of IEC Holden, a Canadian company with several international factories that globally manufacture electric propulsion and powertrain equipment. He also served as president of the board of directors at Trust For the Americas, a foundation affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS).
Although he has over 30 years experience in the industrial, healthcare and energy sector, Hans-Joachim originally did not set out to join the energy field. He began his studies at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá focusing on economics. He began his professional career at Siemens in Colombia, where he stayed for nearly a decade. Beginning with Siemens Mobile, he worked his way up to the role of president of Siemens in the Andean Region and after attending the Harvard Business School prestigious Advanced Management Program rose to the ranks of president and CEO of Siemens Mesoamerica. As CEO of Mesoamerica, Hans increased their revenue by 32% through the expansion of the client base across various industries and by opening multiple factories.
Skills
- Corporate Finance
- Energy
- Strategy
- International Business
- Business Development
- Negotiation
Recent Blogs
The Unique Advisory Board Needs of a Small Business
Many people think of advisory boards as just being used for big corporations, but the reality is that a small business will benefit from an advisory board as well. A board can let a small business owner keep control of their own business while getting valuable...
How to Find and Encourage People to Serve on Your Board
Many advisory boards and committees perform yeoman's work and accomplish important business. Board service at small and medium enterprises is often for very little compensation, typically requires a major time commitment and could yield a significant amount of work....
The Role Creativity Plays on Advisory Boards
There is a complicated relationship between a company's advisory board and the creativity and innovation related to their work. After all, there is no easy formula for a company or board to follow that offers guaranteed implementation of innovative and creative ideas....