Danilo Leite, formerly a strategy and innovation specialist at Brazil-based electricity supplier CPFL Energia, has joined industrial conglomerate Votorantim Group’s energy unit, Votorantim Energia, as an innovation manager.
Leite told Global Corporate Venturing that in his previous role he was responsible for CPFL Energia’s open innovation and corporate venture capital initiatives.
Leite said: “[I led] CPFL Inova, an immersion program in the Brazilian entrepreneurial ecosystem with the objective to approach and connect CPFL with the largest startups and scale-ups in Brazil, in partnership with (Brazil-based nonprofit) Endeavor, changing corporate culture and developing projects with this startup.”
Leite also oversaw the Emotive project, an electric mobility research and development (R&D) scheme backed by CPFL, along with telecommunications and information technology R&D centre CPQD, University of Campinas and R&D-focused engineering firm Daimon.
Concerning his new job, Leite added: “Now as head of innovation at Votorantim Energia, my great challenge is to build the innovation strategy of the company, based on people, process, culture and funding pillars.
“Besides that, I am responsible for corporate venture initiatives, defining our approach with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, building partnerships, investing in startups, focused on making Votorantim Energia a startup and innovation-friendly company.”
Photo of Danilo Leite courtesy of LinkedIn.
