Panama City, Panama | December 18th, 2024
The Board of Directors of Greenwood Energy [GWE], one of the renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group, is pleased to announce two transitions within its leadership team: the appointment of Juan Pablo Crane as Greenwood Energy’s new Chief Executive Officer and the transition of Guido Patrignani to the Board of Directors. With more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors, Juan Pablo will lead GWE’s corporate strategy, strengthening its presence in the markets where it operates. His career spans the deployment of infrastructure and energy projects in Latin America, the establishment of operations in multiple countries, the formation of strategic alliances, and the successful closing of financing, both in capital markets and with local, international, and multilateral financial entities. At the same time, Guido Patrignani, the former Chief Executive Officer of GWE, transitions into a strategic role on the Board of Directors. Having led the positioning of GWE as a catalyst for change in the renewable energy sector, Guido will continue playing a key role in the company’s strategic vision and success, ensuring the continuity of its innovative vision and commitment to sustainable development. These changes mark a new chapter for Greenwood Energy, strengthening its mission of innovation and transformation, and reaffirming its positive impact in the region.
In his over 25 years of experience, Juan Pablo has held strategic leadership positions in prominent companies and organizations, recognized for his expertise in structuring complex operations within Latin America’s energy and infrastructure sectors. Throughout his career, he has led structured financing operations and key projects within the energy transition, with a focus on renewable energy such as solar and green hydrogen. Notably, during his time with Ecopetrol, he structured more than US$10 billion in debt and equity financing. His experience also includes managing infrastructure investments through private equity funds such as CFC-SK Latam Capital, where he led the fund’s investment in the Pacífico 1 road concession project in Colombia. Additionally, Juan Pablo has directed more than 20 global transactions for a total of US$15 billion in Astris Finance and Dexia, focusing on energy, transportation and road concessions in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Peru. Juan Pablo holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes and an MBA with honors from Georgetown University. With a solid track record in sustainable financing and a remarkable ability to work with multidisciplinary teams, Juan Pablo will provide a strategic vision to guide the company in its international consolidation plan.
“This appointment reflects the evolution of Greenwood Energy and the success of the strategic objectives we have achieved in recent years. We are at a key moment of consolidation and expansion, and we trust that the incorporation of Juan Pablo Crane as CEO will not only strengthen our trajectory but will also open new and promising horizons for the group. We warmly welcome him, confident that his leadership will propel GWE towards a future of sustainable growth and transformative innovation,” highlighted Guido Patrignani, member of the Board of Directors of Greenwood Energy.
Juan Pablo is based in Bogota, Colombia, where GWE is set to open new offices in the first quarter of 2025. These offices will complement existing locations in Panama and Barranquilla, further consolidating GWE’s presence in Latin America and strengthening its operational capacity in the region. Through his experience and vision, Juan Pablo will promote new opportunities for GWE, strengthen institutional relationships, and ratify the company as a differential agent of the Latin American energy transition.
“Taking over the leadership of Greenwood Energy is a responsibility that I accept with great commitment and dedication. I am convinced that by continuing to advance our sustainability and innovation strategy, we can significantly contribute to the change the world needs. The just energy transition is not only a challenge, but an opportunity to transform realities, always based on respect for cultural diversity and the natural environment that sustains us. GWE’s human approach is expressed through a team of exceptional professionals who share a disruptive vision of sustainable development, which will not only allow us to consolidate our regional leadership, but also expand our positive impact, creating a more prosperous future for all,” commented Juan Pablo Crane, CEO of Greenwood Energy.
This change in leadership, aligned with Greenwood Energy’s long-term regional expansion plan, reinforces the company’s vision of becoming a benchmark for Latin America’s just energy transition. With a flexible global structure and teams spanning 5 cities across 3 countries, GWE has achieved milestones that transcend the business realm. These include the ‘Reimagining Development’ project series, such as ΛLMΛ MΛTER and TERRΛ INITIΛTIVE, which integrate technological innovation with social development, alongside cultural and environmental preservation. Notable achievements of GWE also include the representation of Colombia at the United Nations SDG Investment Fair alongside the Arhuaco People and the historic meeting between the Arhuacos’ highest spiritual authority and Pope Francis, establishing an unprecedented collaboration between a private company and an indigenous community in the region. Furthermore, the development of innovative solutions such as SUBURBΛN, the construction of ΛLMΛ MΛTER solar plants, and the deployment of #CONECTΛ pilots, reflect the transformative approach that defines GWE. These advances were recognized in 2024 by the British publication Corporate LiveWire, which awarded GWE the Global Awards for “Sustainable Energy Innovators of the Year”, selected from more than 30,000 applicants in 36 countries. With this foundation, Juan Pablo Crane will assume the leadership of Greenwood Energy, driving new expansion opportunities and strengthening its role as a catalyst for change in Latin America’s energy sector.
GWE is one of three renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group, a global diversified business group whose subsidiaries have assets and operations in nearly 60 countries. Beyond renewable energy, the Group has interests in aerospace, maritime, hospitality, real estate, and diversified industries.