- The newly appointed CEO brings extensive international leadership experience in the energy sector, having held key roles at renowned firms such as Galp, Bain & Company, E.ON, and Tesla.
- With a robust background in engineering and business, Alfonso Ortal has consistently driven revenue growth and corporate expansion, leveraging a strong combination of technical expertise and strategic acumen.
- This appointment reinforces Verdian’s commitment to strengthening its market position as a European leader in renewable energy generation, with a focus on financial resilience and sustainable value creation.
Verdian, an independent renewable energy producer under the Clean Energy Fund IV strategy portfolio of Nuveen Infrastructure, has appointed Alfonso Ortal as CEO. This leadership change marks a pivotal milestone in Verdian’s strategic trajectory, enhancing the company’s ability to achieve its long-term objectives, maximise shareholder value, and deliver flexible energy solutions aligned with evolving market dynamics.
Alfonso Ortal’s extensive sectoral expertise has enabled him to develop a unique vision centred on enhancing Europe’s energy independence through innovative and financially sustainable solutions. Prior to joining Verdian, he held executive positions at Galp, notably serving as CEO of Galp Solar, where he spearheaded the company’s expansion in Portugal and Spain while significantly reducing its carbon footprint. His career trajectory also encompasses deep expertise in energy trading and business development, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation and strategic market positioning.
His professional background includes tenures at Bain & Company (New York and Toronto), where he advised on digital transformation, private equity, and growth strategies; Tesla (California), where he identified market expansion opportunities for its energy division; and E.ON, where he held various leadership roles in renewable strategy, energy management, and international market expansion. Alfonso Ortal holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a degree in Industrial Engineering from Cranfield University and the University of Seville.
Alfonso Ortal, CEO of Verdian: “I am excited to join this dynamic and highly differentiated venture, with a strategic mandate to lead the energy transition through an inclusive and transformative approach. Verdian is a European-centric enterprise with a flexible market engagement strategy, enabling us to actively explore new financial and operational growth avenues beyond Spain and Italy. This expansion is underpinned by a highly skilled team and a firm commitment to developing robust, digitalised capabilities, spanning project design, asset management, and operational optimisation, ensuring the agility needed to navigate sectoral challenges.”
Jordi Francesch, Managing Director of Asset Management at Nuveen Infrastructure and Board Member of Verdian: “We are pleased to welcome Alfonso Ortal as CEO of Verdian, our flagship independent power producer (IPP) within Nuveen Infrastructure’s Clean Energy IV strategy. His extensive energy sector expertise and proven leadership credentials make him the ideal candidate to drive Verdian’s ambitious growth strategy. His appointment underscores our commitment to shaping Europe’s energy transition while aiming to deliver strong financial performance for our investors and stakeholders. We are confident that under Alfonso’s stewardship, Verdian will continue to expand its asset portfolio, enhance operational excellence, drive innovation, and generate substantial long-term value.”
Transformational Leadership
Verdian aims to establish itself as a leading IPP in renewable energy generation, with a significant portfolio of operational assets within a diversified energy mix. The company positions itself as an integral market player, actively managing operational assets while also driving new project development, creating value throughout the entire lifecycle in key markets such as Italy (where most of its projects are concentrated) and Spain, as well as other European countries like Portugal.
Italy and Spain serve as strategic growth markets for Verdian, with a well-developed project pipeline that includes flexible assets such as battery storage and solar energy. The company’s emphasis on flexibility solutions enables it to adapt to varying regulatory environments while maximising the financial and operational impact of renewable energy on the broader electricity system.
Verdian currently has approximately 2 GW of projects under development across Europe, spanning different maturity phases, originating both internally and through strategic acquisitions at the ‘ready to build’ stage. These projects incorporate a blend of innovative technologies (solar photovoltaic, battery storage, and hybridisation), enhancing both financial sustainability and the resilience of the energy system.
