Wärtsilä, a leading international energy company, has appointed a new team member to its South Africa office. Sujen Balakisson has a strong background of large corporate and heavy industry proficiency and brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his role as Business Development Manager for the Southern and Eastern Africa region.
“At Wärtsilä, we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent in the industry, and Sujen Balakisson is no exception. His exceptional skills, innovative mindset, and proven track record make him a valuable addition to our team. We are confident that he will play a crucial role in driving our company's growth and success across the continent,” explains Marc Thiriet, Wärtsilä Energy Business Director, Africa.
Balakisson has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and over 11 years of experience. He has worked at Eskom and had a tenure with Siemens and Siemens Energy.
“I consider myself to be a highly motivated and performance orientated engineer. I have spent my varied career working on reducing plant downtimes as well as numerous strategies to increases energy flow, while decreasing capital spend. I have also been instrumental in working on techno-commercial sales, bidding, and negotiation phases of a tender for power generation projects. My career knowledge covers the entire product and solution portfolio within the energy sector from gas and steam turbines to battery storage as well as renewables,” says Balakisson.
In his new role, Balakisson will be responsible for business development (BD), specifically covering internal combustion engines as well as energy storage equipment and solutions. With his unique perspective and extensive knowledge, the firm anticipates that he will bring fresh ideas and contribute to the company’s ongoing commitment to excellence.
“My own goals within my role are to sustain, uplift and strengthen Wärtsilä’s business in the region with respect to the energy space, specifically in the ever-expanding Southern African market, while working with the team to ensure visibility and promote the brand while remaining true to the organisation’s vision and objectives.
“I am fortunate to be working alongside a great team who have already laid a strong foundation in the local market. I am looking forward to bringing my own 'out of the box' thinking to our go to market approach. Wärtsilä’s has a significant role to play in both the very dynamic African, and global, market with our focus on energy security and transition, coupled with decarbonisation,” Balakisson adds.
“We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for fostering innovation and achieving our goals. Balakisson shares our values and is dedicated to upholding our commitment to providing exceptional service and delivering high-quality energy solutions to our clients.
“Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Balakisson as he embarks on this exciting new journey with Wärtsilä. We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to the positive impact he will make as part of our ever-growing team,” concludes Thiriet.
