Team

Jose Antonio de las Heras

CEO

Jose Antonio de las Heras has over 25 years of experience, with half of it in the energy sector. He is currently the CEO of FertigHy, a company founded in June 2023 dedicated to the development, construction, and operation of low-carbon hydrogen-based fertiliser plants.

Previously, he was the CEO of Sunrgyze, a technology startup owned by Repsol and Enagás, focused on developing photo-electrocatalysis technology for hydrogen.

For 6 years, he served as the Country Manager of Enagás for Chile and Peru, managing natural gas transportation and regasification assets. In the renewable energy sector, he was the Country Manager in Chile for Renovalia Energy for 4 years, developing photovoltaic solar plants.

He holds an Industrial Engineering degree from ICAI at Comillas Pontifical University, an MSc in Engineering, Manufacturing and Management from the University of Birmingham, and is a Chartered Director from the Institute of Directors in the United Kingdom.

David Iglesias

Engineer manager

David is a seasoned Chemical Engineer with over two decades of experience in the design, development, and construction of plants for the petrochemical and oil & gas industries. He has a robust background in both conceptual and detailed design, having participated in global projects. Recently, he has focused on developing new green fertiliser plants by integrating hydrogen production with ammonia and derivative products, setting new industry standards.

He is a subject matter expert (SME) in specialized areas such as Solid Handling Systems, Modularization, Nitrogen Generation Units, and Hydrogen Generation Plants, particularly electrolysers. His proficiency in these domains enables him to provide innovative solutions and enhance operational efficiency.

His key strengths include management skills, commitment to excellence, and dedication to continuous improvement. He has successfully led numerous projects from inception to completion, ensuring the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance. His ability to address complex engineering challenges and effectively manage multidisciplinary teams has established him as a trusted advisor and leader.

Known for his collaborative approach and effective communication skills, he thrives in multidisciplinary teamwork and knowledge sharing. His dedication to continuously exploring new technological fields, such as Digital Twins for enhancing plant efficiency and sustainability, supports the development of efficient, low-carbon green fertiliser plants of the future.

His expertise, forward-thinking, and effective management make him a valuable asset to any project or organization.

Cayetano Hernández

Strategy and regulation manager

Cayetano brings over 15 years of experience in the energy sector, holding master’s degrees in Electrical Power Industry and Civil Engineering, along with an MBA. He has a strong record of leading international strategic, technology-driven, and innovative business models, with particular expertise in industrial decarbonization, decentralization and digitization with focus on energy transition projects. His skills encompass project origination, investment analysis, financial modeling, and optimization of key metrics such as LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy), LCOH (Levelized Cost of Hydrogen), and LCOA (Levelized Cost of Ammonia). He is also hands on experienced in capital and fundraising management, M&A, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement.

Cayetano has developed and implemented robust hydrogen and derivative strategies, along with policy and regulatory frameworks, internationally and across Europe and Latin America. He has a proven track record in securing public funding through successful proposals for key incentive programs, including RED III compliance initiatives and delegated acts at European, national, and regional levels in programs like Next Generation, the Green Deal, Innovation Fund, and European Hydrogen Bank auctions.

Paola Baldivieso Freitas

Sustainability and Communications Manager

Paola brings over 12 years of extensive experience in sustainability and environmental management. With deep expertise in the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors and sustainable agriculture, Paola has successfully led numerous initiatives aimed at reducing carbon footprints and developing carbon management strategies, ensuring compliance with stringent EU ESG regulations.

Paola has a proven track record in building strategic relationships with companies committed to sustainability goals. At FertigHy, she is responsible for the sustainability strategy and oversees all communication activities. Her comprehensive understanding of the sustainability landscape in the agricultural sector is further enhanced by her PhD.

In addition to her work at FertigHy, Paola has significant experience in managing European sustainability projects, focusing on innovation and securing funding. She has been instrumental in driving sustainability strategies and developing innovative ESG solutions in the hard-to-abate industry. Paola’s dedication to fostering a sustainable future is evident through her commitment to implementing effective communication strategies and promoting sustainable practices across various sectors.

Ignacio Fernández

Chief Technical Officer

Ignacio Fernandez has 18 years of project management and engineering experience in large industrial and infrastructure projects in the energy, oil & gas, and fertiliser sectors. He currently holds the position of Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at FertigHy since November 2023.

His previous experience includes positions at companies such as Fluor, Duro Felguera, Cobra, and Intecsa, where he held roles of responsibility in project management. In his last position before joining FertigHy, Ignacio was Chief Projects Officer at Intecsa, where he was responsible for managing the execution and ensuring the achievement of objectives of the company’s turnkey projects in countries such as Morocco, Uzbekistan, or Saudi Arabia, as well as engineering projects in Spain.

Ignacio’s experience combines the development of conventional energy or petrochemical industry projects with energy transition projects related to hydrogen production or advanced biofuels. Ignacio brings strong technical and management knowledge of complex international projects to the technical development of FertigHy.

Christina Ivanova

Chief Financial Officer

Christina Ivanova has significant experience in the financial sector working with multinational companies and investors. As Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at FertigHy, she is passionate about energy transition and contributing to the company’s mission of decarbonising the food value chain.

Prior to joining FertigHy, Christina spent 12 years at PwC predominantly in the Deals Valuations team focusing on M&A, public to private takeovers and financial reporting valuations in the TMT, Renewable Energy and Infrastructure sectors. She has extensive experience working with international companies on cross country transactions with a focus on the Spanish market, as well as startups and family-owned businesses.

Christina started her career in London, splitting her time between Assurance and Valuations at PwC while studying to become a Chartered Accountant. She moved to Spain in 2017 for an international secondment and has since made Madrid her home.

Christina brings robust financial acumen and deals experience as well as extensive leadership and project management skills to her role at FertigHy. Her key skills include strategic business planning, complex financial modelling and stakeholder management.

Christina is an ACA Chartered Accountant from the ICAEW and graduated from the London School of Economics with a BSc in Economics.

Vanesa Rodríguez

Vanesa is a financial professional with over 6 years of experience managing and optimizing accounting, financial, and tax processes. She holds a degree in Business Administration and has certifications in Financial Controlling and Tax Closing.

Her comprehensive approach includes cash flow management, regulatory compliance under IFRS, and strategic planning to ensure long-term financial stability. Her professional philosophy is based on transparency, rigorous analysis, and informed decision-making, ensuring operational efficiency and the effective management of resources in complex environments. She is skilled at developing strategies that drive sustainable growth and optimize financial results.

Thomas has 15 years’ experience in energy transition and decarbonisation in project development and management, R&D and innovation support for major industrial projects in the renewable energy and chemicals sectors.

He currently holds the position of Senior Project Managerat FertigHy since august 2024 for the development on the field of low-carbon green fertilizer plants.

His background includes roles in companies such as ENGIE, ARKEMA and Européenne de Biomasse, where he has held positions of responsibility in cross-functional projectsmanagement and engineering.
In his last position before joining FertigHy,Thomas was Energy Transition Sector Manager at BPIfrance, where he was responsible for selecting and appraising innovation projects and industrial sector structuring projects.  He also provided expertise to all Bpifrance departments for the in-depth analysis of innovation projects.

Thomas will bring to FertigHy’s development a solid knowledge of project development and their funding, as well as his technical expertise in energy transition and agronomy.

With a degree in mechanical engineering and a diverse international background, Axel has been working in the renewable energy sector since 2007. He startedas a project developer at EDF Energies Nouvelles in France, where he was responsible for identifying opportunities and securing permits for wind and solar (PV) plants. He later transitioned to Reden Solar in Spain, where he successfully launched operations and led local teams in Kazakhstan, India, and various Latin American and European countries.

Prior to joining FertigHy in December 2023, Axel served as Country Manager for Iberia, focusing on business development, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Axel brings to the team extensive expertise in project development, particularly within the French market, coupled with a deep understanding of the energy sector – key to advancing FertigHy’s strategic goals.