Privately held energy solutions firm Energy Drive is actively recruiting people to join its 80-strong workforce as it continues growing and expanding in target markets the US and Europe.
Following £20 million ($42 million) in recent strategic growth investment from the Pears family, and appointment of Johannes Felix Bayer as Head of Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (EMENA), the 15-year-old company says it is well-positioned to embark on its global growth initiative.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, VP Strategy & Global Business Development Paul Wrighton says the Pears family funding supports Energy Drive’s continued market expansion in Europe and North America, which requires significant operational resourcing and capital expenditure.
“We have very ambitious plans for the region and are excited about executing our strategy, alongside an investor group which shares our vision,” Wrighton tells this news service.
On 17 June, Mining.com.au reported the appointment of Bayer as Head of Sales for EMENA. Wrighton says Bayer will be building an effective and scalable cross-border sales operation for Europe.
“Through their activity we aim to grow our presence in Europe by 10 times over the next five years. We will initially target the steel industry across Europe, where Johannes has a deep network and where our service is most immediately needed, but also focus resources on the wastewater, oil and gas, utilities, and other industry sectors,” Wrighton adds.
Bayer joins Energy Drive from voestalpine High Performance Metals International, where he was Senior Sales Engineer for South Eastern Europe and led sales operations in Slovenia and Bulgaria across the steel, automotives, oil and gas, and energy sectors. Prior to this, he was Head of Sales for Industry and Mechanical Engineering at Thyssenkrupp.
During his time at Thyssenkrupp, Bayer learned how to manage cross-border sales teams effectively, working across languages, cultures, and international organisational structures. At voestalpine, he saw first-hand the importance of hiring the right people and investing in their development. Building teams, training them in solution selling, and fostering a strong mentoring culture, were key success factors there.
Driving growth in Europe
Commenting on his appointment, Bayer tells Mining.com.au that coming from industries that are among the highest electricity consumers, he immediately recognised the potential of Energy Drive’s service offering.
“Many industrial companies in Europe are struggling with rising energy costs and the need to decarbonise yet often lack the capex and internal resources to drive efficiency improvements at scale. Energy Drive offers a proven model that removes these barriers,” Bayer adds.
“For me, joining Energy Drive means being part of a team that delivers measurable value to clients and supports the wider energy transition. A mission that is very motivating on a personal and commercial level.
“Heavy industry in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa faces strong competitive pressure from Asia and the US. In this environment, every percentage point of cost savings matters for survival.”
As Head of Sales for EMENA, Bayer will be responsible for building an effective and scalable cross-border sales operation in the region.
Bayer says Energy Drive already has a track record in sectors such as mining, wastewater treatment, and steel. Leveraging these success stories and customer references, paired with his deep network in the European industry, the company can build early momentum and expand rapidly into adjacent segments, he adds.
“Energy Drive has a strong history in the steel and mining sector and will continue to target that market internationally. In Europe, demand for energy savings is rising fast across the heavy industry. They are pressured to cut costs and carbon intensity fast, positioning them as strong opportunities for the near future,” Bayer tells this news service.
“For us, it is crucial to build a strong sales organisation in EMENA quickly, so we can capture these opportunities while the market momentum is high.”
“For us, it is crucial to build a strong sales organisation in EMENA quickly, so we can capture these opportunities while the market momentum is high”
Bayer notes that energy costs are a key lever and companies in the EMENA region know they must act fast. Energy Drive’s zero-capex model is “very attractive in this climate”, making the region one of the most promising growth markets for the company, he adds.
Launched in 2010 and headquartered in London, with expanded projected operations in North America, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, Energy Drive brings Intelligent Motor Control to heavy industry, reducing operational costs and supporting energy-related sustainability goals.
The company was established to bring zero-capex energy efficiency solutions for large motors in mining and other heavy industries, reducing operational costs, and supporting energy-related sustainability goals.
Energy Drive says it saves nearly one million kilograms of CO2, SO2, and NOX emissions annually. It has previously partnered with ArcelorMittal, Glencore (LSE:GLEN), Vale (NYSE:VALE), Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE:SBSW), and Liberty Steel.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Energy Drive
