New leadership, new vision: Luis Goncalves takes over as CEO.

Ettlingen, March 1st, 2024 – Luis Goncalves enriches VIVAVIS AG with international expertise and a clear view of the digital future in the energy sector.

Luis Goncalves will take over the position of CEO at VIVAVIS AG starting March 1st, 2024. Luis Goncalves, former CEO of the Iskraemeco Group, has managed to transform Iskraemeco from a pure platform manufacturer to a digital platform supplier with great success in just six years: Iskraemeco is now a global solution provider for smart grids and smart metering in the areas of electricity and water supply.

Luis Goncalves, a German citizen with Portuguese roots, has tripled turnover at the Iskraemeco Group since 2018. He has also significantly increased profits during the same period. The 57-year-old electrical and power engineering graduate, holding an MBA from the University of Seattle, has developed Iskraemeco into a global player with various locations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

Additionally, Luis Goncalves serves as the President of the European Smart Metering Industry Group and possesses extensive experience in software, smart metering, and measurement and control technology. Luis Goncalves has a strong vision for the future of our company: “VIVAVIS AG is a hidden champion. It is facing great times and will play a significant role in the digital transformation of the energy sector.”

Luis Goncalves adds: “Together with all my colleagues, I would like to give the starting signal that we can raise the company to a new level of success. I am very much looking forward to my new role – especially with regard to the people at VIVAVIS. People are very important to me, as they form the basis for the success of any company. That’s why employee development is one of my key tasks. I have always practiced this in my professional career.”

Having successfully completed management positions at Oracle and the Elster Group, Luis Goncalves has set standards over the past two decades in the management of operational sales, the successful development of business units, the establishment and support of M&A processes, and the creation and implementation of corporate strategies. Goncalves, who studied in Wiesbaden, began his career around 30 years ago at ABB in network control technology. His passion for smart grids and smart metering, as well as his commitment to efficient energy management and the digital transformation of the energy sector, are exactly what VIVAVIS AG needs to achieve its ambitious goals in the future.

Luis Goncalves is taking over the baton from acting CEO Norbert Wagner, who has managed the fortunes of VIVAVIS AG very confidently over the past 11 months on the basis of an interim mandate and will move to the Supervisory Board on March 1st, 2024. Norbert Wagner, who already served as CEO of VIVAVIS AG from 2007 to 2021, took over the management of VIVAVIS AG again in 2023 and has kept the company on course during this interim mandate with a very high level of personal commitment and strong motivation. The entire VIVAVIS AG and its Supervisory Board would like to thank Norbert Wagner for this.

In conclusion, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Frank Düpre, emphasizes:
“We are delighted that in Luis Goncalves we have gained an outstanding sales expert with comprehensive technical knowledge, many years of management experience, and extensive international networking for VIVAVIS AG. With Luis Goncalves’ expertise, we will significantly accelerate our growth.”