Hans-Joachim Kohlsdorf is a true renaissance man. He has the skills, education, and expertise that comes from working in the business world for many years, but he also has a strong sense of empathy for the underprivileged as well as for our own planet. He believes in a free market when it comes to energy suppliers, he supports peoples’ right to mobility and high quality of existence, and he embraces technology that will save the planet and make our lives easier and more cost-effective. He is especially active in energy, water, waste management.
“Hans was the first person that gave me the opportunity to start working by Siemens and I consider this opportunity the school that shaped all my knowledge and abilities that I have today. Working with Hans was very interesting and challenging demanding from myself 100% dedication and integrity. He is proactive, results-oriented, creative and perceptive. I recommend him because I’m sure that if he wants to achieve one target he will get it.”
–Direct Report
Hans is proud to serve on multiple corporate boards for companies that agree with his ideologies. ADO is a mobility company that brings the freedom of motion to countless people around the world by way of efficient transportation. IEC Holden manufactures electric propulsion and powertrain equipment that puts an emphasis on quality, efficiency, and service. He was president of the board of directors for Trust For the Americas, a foundation affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) that focuses on educational and economic opportunities for Latin American and the Caribbean, as well as government accountability and transparency. At Construlita, an earth-friendly lightning company, he helps support the company’s dream of inspiring others to help save the planet. He is a managing partner of Efficient Ideas S.A. and he serves on the board for NATGAS, a company engaged in the distribution of natural gas for vehicles. ParaLife provides live critical insurance to the low-income communities. Hans Kohlsdorf is also a founding partner of Energy To Market (E2M), an energy supplier and trader.
Hans Kohlsdorf was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and grew up in Bogotá, Colombia. Although he has over 30 years experience in the industrial, healthcare and energy sectors, Hans-Joachim originally began with a focus on economics. He attended the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá before setting out to get his first job. After spending several years at Siemens, he returned to school, this time to focus on business management. He attended Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, where he also took the course Making Corporate Boards Better. After finishing the AMP he became CEO of Siemens in the Andean Region and later became president and CEO of Siemens Mesoamerica. During his tenure, Hans increased the company revenue by 32% through an expansion of their customer base across various industries, as well as by opening multiple new factory locations.