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16 February 2023
Joris Steinberg, General Manager of Americas is a Dutch national living in Brazil for more than 15 years. He has a lot of interesting personal and professional insight to share regarding the inspiring progress of Atlas Professionals Americas and what makes the Americas so special to operate in.
Some people prefer staying in the same town they were born in; some might move into different cities or even countries – but some change continents! Joris is one such individual and has been living in Brazil for the better part of the last two decades.
Although Joris had plans to go back to the Netherlands after completing his MBA studies in Rio de Janeiro, the 2008 Financial Crisis and Brazil’s relative economic stability persuaded him to stay for even longer: “I discovered new opportunities, travelled the country, and got involved in numerous industries across Brazil. I went to very remote places – I was probably the first foreigner to visit some of the places I’ve been to,” Joris adds with a smile.
Back in 2013, Atlas Professionals reached out to Joris to inquire whether he would spearhead and reorganize the local Brazilian office: “And with that, I started working for Atlas Professionals and have been doing so for the last 9 years. Next year will be my 10th anniversary,” Joris says.
Booming Business in Brazil
Doing business in a different continent is never an easy feat – even if you have decades of experience in the industry: “Integrating Atlas Professionals Brazil into the ongoing Atlas Professionals infrastructure took time, effort, and investment but over the past 4 years it has paid off with the scope of the business having quintupled,” Joris explains. "The Brazilian office was heavily dependent on cross-office collaborations, especially during the years 2015 -2018, when the Brazilian O&G industry was suffering from a massive corruption scandal. That situation has now inverted, as currently 90% of our business comes from a local client portfolio.”
“For Brazil,” he adds, “the initial investment requirements are three times bigger than any other country in the world due to the bureaucracy and the amount of local connections you have to make – but the return on investment is also much higher compared to most other countries, as there are still a lot of unexplored opportunities in Brazil.”
Joris stresses that this was possible thanks to the commitment of the Brazilian Atlas Professionals team: "This is something that needs mentioning – I am very proud of the team. Their dedication, effort and positive spirit all contributed to the exceptional growth of the local office. They put Brazil on the map within Atlas Professionals!”
From Houston to Boston
As of November 2021, Joris took on the role of General Manager Americas – overseeing the US and Brazil offices, and all other places in the Americas Atlas Professionals currently has operations such as Mexico, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Joris is excited about what he has been experiencing with the North America team: “The team there is fantastic, and the continent presents immense opportunities in the Energy, Marine and Renewables industries – especially when it comes to Offshore Wind in the US. Atlas Professionals has been present in the emerging US Offshore Wind industry since 2010 – it has been a long time coming and we have been preparing ourselves for these opportunities. We are actively participating in events and initiatives that are designed to train the next generation of Offshore Wind Professionals and develop the industry from a gras roots level whilst incorporating key stake knowledge partners – European experts, the construction and maritime unions, the marine academies and the existing US offshore workforce that are eager to be involved with the energy transition.”
Joris also emphasizes the importance of having an office in US and how the Gulf of Mexico remains one of hottest regions in the world right now: “If you are not present in the Gulf of Mexico, can you honestly say you are an international player?” He then explains how Atlas Professionals Houston office has been providing personnel solutions for American initiatives and have been working closely with local groups to source and recruit Professionals with increasing intensity.
Continent(s) of the Future
Joris also brings attention to the international relevancy of the American continent: “Did you know that Brazil already generates 80% of its electricity needs from renewable sources, mainly hydropower? And in due course Brazil – just like the US – will have its own Offshore Wind sector, that will enable the production of green hydrogen, to be exported to meet the world’s ever-increasing need for Energy. Countries like Brazil and the US are democracies, with big economies, so having these countries as trade partners will be a benefit for the entire world.”
He argues that Americas will supply the necessary energy and many other commodities to the entire world in the upcoming decades: “Sure, these places might have some issues they have to tackle – but I am yet to discover a country that does not have similar issues they cannot overcome.”
