Simon Baker Email & Phone Number

Geneva, Switzerland

Negotiating renewable power purchase contracts around the world to build a global green hydrogen industry

Geneva Area, Switzerland

• Achieved EBITDA margins of 35%+ over the last four years on annual revenue of US$700M+ for the energy business unit. 2015 EBITDA margin was 43% and the highest for any Alcoa business unit.
• Led productivity programs delivering sustainable annual savings of US$15M, owned operational and P&L accountability, and directed 200+ team members across Australia, the United States, Canada, Brazil and Suriname.
• Directed 20 regional experts located across Europe, the United States, Brazil and Australia involved in global energy operations with a spend of US$2BN+.
• Championed a strategy to build a long-term power supply portfolio for Norwegian smelters backed by PPAs from new entrant wind generators. Gained approval from the Board of Directors.
• Renegotiated and restructured US smelter power supply agreements to avoid multi-million-dollar contract termination penalties and to facilitate continued operation of the sites.
• Gained Board of Director approval to negotiate multi-billion-dollar long-term natural gas supply contracts for the Australian alumina refineries.

Geneva Area, Switzerland

• Facilitated open communication and collaboration with the European works council of Alcoa to ensure key restructuring exercises would be completed without dispute or legal challenge from the unions.
• Interfaced with government representatives, regulators, and policy makers to provide input on energy and sustainability goals in Europe.
• Served on the Executive Committee and as Treasurer of European Aluminium. Member of the Executive Committees of Eurometaux and AmCham EU. Board member for the Geneva Chapter of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce.
• Downsized Alcoa's European support functions by 25% during 2015 and 2016.

Geneva Area, Switzerland

• Advocated to European policy makers for the non-ferrous metals sector to receive financial compensation allowing European member states to cover the indirect cost of the EU Emissions trading scheme on electricity.
• Challenged the state aid investigation into regulated Italian power tariffs launched by the European Commission. Demonstrated inconsistencies in the Commission's arguments resulting in a halving of the repayment amount.
• Planned and completed the conversion of Alcoa's European Alumina refinery from burning fuel oil to natural gas, decreased facility costs, reduced CO2 emissions by 25% and ensured long-term commercial viability.

Geneva Area, Switzerland

• Head-hunted to join Alcoa to champion energy and climate change matters for Alcoa's European operations with an annual energy spend of euro 600 million
• Raised internal awareness of the potential financial impact of the European Emissions Trading Scheme as a critical business enterprise risk.
• Insourced energy procurement for downstream European businesses reducing cost to serve by 70%, improving commercial terms, and leveraging the scale of the upstream business.
• Championed the sale of power interruption rights from the European smelters as a new revenue stream, delivering a total in excess of €1BN since 2006.
• Leveraged local politics to negotiate 3.5-year power contracts for Alcoa's Spanish smelters with a combined mark-to-market benefit of €200M+
• Selected by incoming CEO to evaluate the commercial potential for creating an independent Alcoa energy venture as a fourth business platform. Project wound-down due to the global financial crisis of 2007 and 2008.

London, United Kingdom

• Grew International Power’s business footprint in Europe through leading talented cross-functional project teams that successfully delivered
• Completed the acquisition of a majority equity stake in a 900 MW operational gas-fired power plant in Portugal
• Originated and negotiated the commercial agreements for two 800 MW gas-fired power projects in continental Europe with incumbent utility partners. Both power plants are now operational (Enecogen, in the Netherlands and.

The Hague, Netherlands

• Recruited by Shell on a fixed-term contract to assist with the acquisition and integration of wind generation assets

Geneva Area, Switzerland

• Promoted to lead TXU's commercial development activities in the energy markets of continental Europe from its Geneva headquarters
• Responsible for business strategy, origination, commercial structuring and delivery of new electricity and gas related business in Europe
• Pioneered innovative profitable cross-border gas and power deals
• Led a multi-national team of 25 commercial development managers based in four regional locations
• Managed investment budgets in excess of £100 million
• The business area delivered returns above cost of capital in all years

Madrid Area, Spain

• Recruited by TXU to be a key figure in the execution of the company strategy to grow in Europe. I relocated to Madrid, Spain to grow a new business.
• I negotiated the partnership agreements with Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico that culminated in the formation of Synergia Trading S.A., a joint venture energy trading company. Recruited the team that became the company
• Led a front office team of 20 Spanish nationals and expatriates engaged in energy trading and origination
• Participated in the management of a 2 billion euro take-over bid launched for Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico
• Successfully negotiated the purchase of a 40% stake in two 50 MW wind farms in Spain with an asset value in excess of euro 100 million and brought the project to financial close/operation

London, United Kingdom

• Provided recommendations to senior management on the allocation of risk capital across wholesale/retail/pool trading market sectors within a single risk portfolio
• Set up the risk metrics and reporting structures to ensure that VAR limits were monitored and maintained

London, United Kingdom

• Developed and implemented National Power’s long-term commercial strategy for forward selling the power produced by its UK electricity generation business
• Initiated and grew partnerships and joint ventures with key existing customers (regional electricity supply companies) and prospective new entrant retailers which led to the subsequent retail business acquisitions.
• Developed, negotiated and executed innovative financial derivative structures with contract values in excess of £1 billion and mark-to-market profits in exceeding £100 million

London, United Kingdom

• Optimised the fuel and logistics costs for the company power generation portfolio
• Led the operational interface with power generation asset managers

London, United Kingdom

• Negotiated commercial agreements for a newly formed European joint venture that acquired the Portuguese Pego power project. Managed the fuel related elements of joint venture partnership with Endesa of Spain and EdF of.
• Built the fuel procurement company created for the project (CarboPego). Recruited the team and developed the business plan for the first 5 years of the new venture
• Developed international coal import options for the company by negotiating preferential utilisation of third party port facilities

London, United Kingdom

• Selected to join a newly formed trading team charged with maximising National Power’s revenue stream from the electricity sales in the spot market

Somerset, United Kingdom

• Managed the nuclear fuel requirement, refueling and reactor inspections during routine shutdowns

Essex, United Kingdom

• Modeled the physics of the reactors at varying operating conditions and compiled safety cases based on risk assessment for the operation of the reactors

Master Of Business Administration - Mba With Distinction, Business Administration And Management, General

Diploma In Management, Business Administration And Management, General

Bachelor Of Science - B.Sc (Hons), Physics