zouk Appoints cleantech Pioneer Dr. Sven Hansen as Venture Partner

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--zouk ventures, a leading cleantech investment firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sven Hansen as Venture Partner. As one of the world’s most long-standing cleantech investors, Dr. Hansen brings in his valuable experience in advisory, investment banking and private investment practices of the industry.

“I have come to know the zouk team well over the last few years and I am proud to be part of it. Their philosophy, investment principles and hands-on approach make zouk an exciting business. I am looking forward to the opportunity to grow the company and its investments.”

Dr. Sven Hansen is one of the pioneers in cleantech investing with unique multidisciplinary experience in the field of sustainable finance and investment spanning over 20 years. Since his appointment as Global Head of Environmental Risk Management at UBS, Dr. Hansen has spent much of his career raising the profile of environmental issues and successfully investing in and supporting the cleantech industry. Over the last decade, he has been engaged in growing some of the world’s most successful solar companies across Europe, Asia and North America, such as Q-Cells, REC, Solarcentury, Solarfun and Trina.

Dr. Hansen has already worked with zouk on several occasions as co-investor through Good Energies’ investments in leading solar companies. As a Venture Partner at zouk, he will focus on investments and will work alongside both the cleantech and infrastructure teams.

Samer Salty, CEO of zouk ventures commented: “We are all very excited to welcome Sven to our team. He is a highly respected figure in the industry with a direct hand in building some of cleantech’s most successful businesses from their very early days. Zouk is today one of Europe’s leading cleantech asset management firms, and Sven’s expertise in the sector is invaluable to our ambitious growth plans.”

Sven Hansen commented: “I have come to know the zouk team well over the last few years and I am proud to be part of it. Their philosophy, investment principles and hands-on approach make zouk an exciting business. I am looking forward to the opportunity to grow the company and its investments.”

About Dr Sven Hansen
Sven Hansen is one of the pioneers in the cleantech industry with experience in the field of sustainable finance and investment spanning over 20 years. Having created the role of Global Head of Environmental Risk Management at UBS, Dr. Hansen has spent much of his career raising the profile of environmental issues and successfully investing in and supporting the cleantech industry. From UBS, he moved into senior financial and operational management roles in energy finance in the US, Europe and Africa.

As partner at Black Emerald, founder of InErgies Capital and Chief Investment Officer of Good Energies Dr. Hansen consolidated his position as one of the world’s most experienced cleantech investors, with exposure to the advisory, investment banking and private investment practices of the industry. Over the last decade he has been engaged in growing some of the world’s largest solar companies across Europe, Asia and North America such as Concentrix, Norsun, Q-Cells, REC, Solarcentury, Solarfun, Trina. Dr. Hansen has been involved in investments in over 40 clean tech companies and in listing four companies (QCE, REC, SOLF, TSL).

Sven Hansen studied at the Universities of Basel and St. Gallen where he earned his Ph.D. in 1992 on Environmental Risk Management. His work has been published in several books and numerous articles in leading newspapers and business magazines.

About zouk ventures
With more than 10 years experience, London based zouk ventures is one of Europe’s leading cleantech investment platforms. Executing a dual-track strategy, zouk invests expansion capital in clean technology companies and project equity in clean infrastructure opportunities, having raised three pooled investment vehicles in technology and one in infrastructure. Leveraging its deep roots in Europe, zouk’s investment focus is predominantly pan-European, investing opportunistically outside where it can apply its hands-on approach to add value as a European partner.

For further information please visit www.zouk.com