Our Team

Dr. Harald Schützeichel, Germany

Founder and CEO

Professional experience

• Establishment and management of companies, foundations and associations in Europe, Africa and Asia:
  - 1998 – 2003, founding director of a publicly traded company (D)
  - since 2006, founder and director of international companies in the fields of production, trade
    and services 
  - 2012, founding president of an international trade association based in Hong Kong (together
    with the World Bank/IFC)
• since 2004, in the development cooperation with a focus on East Africa and Southeast Asia (for-profit and non-profit)
• working since 2004 as a business coach
• since 2003, management consultant
• since 1990, teaching and training activities, inter alia for staff, leadership and management at the University of Freiburg

Education

• Marketing specialist, St. Gallen (BWA)
• Business-Coach, Augsburg/Stuttgart
• Humanities studies in Bonn and Freiburg i.Br. (theology, philosophy, music)

Cécile Dahomé, France / Cambodia

Cécile is a advisor, with long experience in Consulting and Business Development. In recent years, she has been focusing on organization and management consulting for social businesses, SME business support, Investment readiness packages development and inclusive business development in the developing world, specifically in South and South East Asia. In addition, she has worked for both corporates and NGO’s, helping them develop, implement and evaluate their impact strategies and projects.

Professional experience

• Since 2012: Co-founder & CEO of Sevea, a Consulting Company based in Cambodia operationally supporting corporates, organizations and social enterprises in the development of their social impact strategies in emerging markets, in clean energy sector or for energy related issues in the sectors of water, health & agriculture. Country of intervention: Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh and India  
• 2010-2011: Internal Direction Consultant for Securimut (an insurance company): operational implementation of diverse business growth strategies.
• 2007-2009: Organisation & Management Consultant for Colombus Consulting (missions in the sector of Energy, Finance, Facility Management and Sustainable Development)

Education

• Master’s Degree in Engineering Sciences from Ecole Centrale de Lyon and Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
• Challenges of Global Poverty from the MITx (course successfully completed)

Gathu Kirubi PhD, Kenya

Over the last 10 years, Kirubi has become a top-level scholar, consultant, and energy entrepreneur in energy access, micro finance,and rural development in Africa. He has published key publications on energy access and consulted for UN-ILO, UNDP, and Arc Finance (US), among others.

Kirubi is the founder and CEO of SunTransfer Kenya Ltd, an off-grid solar company with over 50 employees serving thousands of customers, and rapidly growing. In 2001, he won the prestigious Ashden Award in recognition of "leadership and innovation in pioneering the start-up of a revolving fund credit scheme that supports schools and micro-enterprises with energy efficient wood stoves in Kenya.

Kirubi is a Lecturer at the Kenyatta University, Nairobi, where he teaches courses on energy, technology, and sustainable development. His main interests in the project are the linkages between rural access to electricity and income generating activities, including small and medium size enterprises. 

Education

• B.Sc., Kenyatta University Nairobi
• Masters and PhD in Energy and Resources, University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Cyril Monteiller, Cambodia

Cyril is an French Engineer, with extensive experience in Business Development and Solar&Hydro Energy. He worked mainly on project management, SME business support, inclusive business development, last mile distribution network development, market & business analysis.

Professional experience

• Since 2012: Co-founder & CEO of Sevea, a Consulting Company based in Cambodia operationally supporting corporates, organizations and social enterprises in the development of their social impact strategies in emerging markets, in clean energy sector or for energy related issues in the sectors of water, health & agriculture. Country of intervention: Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. 
• 2010-2012: Construction Project Manager for MAÏA POWER. In charge of the construction from the beginning until the commissioning of several solar power plants on roof (up to 200 kW) and one run-of-river hydro power plant (2,5 MW)
• 2007-2009: Project Manager for EDF for the management and the monitoring of national policies of maintenance of high voltage grid and in charge particularly of GIS underground power lines project (18 M€).

Education

Master’s Degree from Grenoble INP - ENSE3 (National Engineering School for Energy, Water and Environment). A prestigious Engineering School in France and one of “France’s Grandes Ecoles”.

William "Bill" S. Nichols, USA

Bill is an advisor to small and medium enterprises. He has years of experience as an international consultant and businessman with extensive general management and marketing know-how in developing and emerging markets as well as in the United States and Europe. He has conducted multiple capacity building assignments in the areas of clean and renewable energy, small enterprise development, and agricultural business development.

Professional experience

• Since 2009: Advisor to small and medium enterprises in developing countries.
  - Conducted assignments in 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean
  - Experience in clean and renewable energy, agribusiness, small enterprise development
  - Provided strategic guidance, business planning, training, coaching, and mentoring 
• Since 2001: Founder of Nichols Consulting – provider of marketing strategy assistance to business-to-business companies.
• 1987 – 2001: Held senior marketing, sales, and strategic planning roles in leading investment management companies in the US. 
• Overall career: Particularly deep experience in most aspects of marketing and sales, as both a consultant and as a practitioner.

Education

• Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration:
  MBA 1978. General management curriculum with emphasis on international business.
• U.S. Military Academy (West Point)
  BS 1971. Civil Engineering. Dean’s List.