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Michael Liebreich

From Alfawiki
Michael Liebreich
Born (1963-08-11) August 11, 1963 (age 63)
Northolt, West London, England
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, consultant, author
Known forFounder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance; CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance (2009–2014); founder of Liebreich Associates; co-founder of EcoPragma Capital; member of UK Board of Trade
Notable workThe Complete Skier (co-author), "First They Ignore You..." (video)

Michael Liebreich (born 11 August 1963) is an entrepreneur focused on the clean energy sector. He leads Liebreich Associates, a consultancy providing expert advice and keynote presentations on topics such as clean energy, transportation, intelligent infrastructure, technology, climate finance, and sustainable development. In 2004, he founded Bloomberg New Energy Finance, which was acquired by Bloomberg in 2009; he continues to contribute as a senior advisor.

In July 2020, he introduced the weekly podcast Cleaning Up, featuring conversations with prominent figures in clean energy, mobility, climate finance, and sustainable development, including guests like Tony Blair and Ban Ki-moon. By March 2021, Michael co-established EcoPragma Capital, a Growth Equity firm investing in companies positioned for significant commercial expansion consistent with the net-zero transition. Since 2020, he has been a member of the UK’s Board of Trade. In November 2022, the Energy Institute awarded him an Honorary Fellowship.

Personal life

Born in 1963 in Northolt, West London, Michael Liebreich grew up in Acton. His education includes Silverdale Prep School, Colet Court, and St Paul's School of London. In 1984, he graduated with first-class honours from Christ's College, Cambridge, where he specialized in mechanics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and nuclear engineering. He later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990.

Between 1985 and 1993, Liebreich competed as a member of the British Ski Team (Moguls), participating in World and European Cups, Championships, and the 1992 Albertville Olympics. He co-wrote The Complete Skier (BBC Books, 1993) and remains passionate about cross-country skiing, regularly finishing the Engadin Skimarathon in under three hours.

Liebreich also served as Chairman of St. Marks Hospital Foundation, the charitable branch of St. Mark's Hospital—an institution dedicated to research and education in colorectal medicine.

Professional career

Prior to founding New Energy Finance, Liebreich worked at McKinsey & Company from 1990 until 1995. His career also includes roles as a venture capitalist with Groupe Arnault, commercial director at Associated Press Television (now APTN), and founding director of Sports News Television (SNTV).

In 2004, he launched New Energy Finance to provide specialized data on clean energy and resources tailored for finance professionals, energy companies, manufacturers, and policymakers. Beginning with a small team consisting of interns and a programmer hired through Rent A Coder, the company expanded to nearly 200 employees by 2011.

Liebreich created the 2011 video "First They Ignore You...", which depicts the worldwide shift away from fossil fuels.

He actively contributes to prominent energy forums such as the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on New Energy Architecture and the UN Secretary General's High Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All. Previously, he advised the Clinton Global Initiative’s Energy and Climate Change working group, served on the Zayed Future Energy Prize jury panel, participated in Accenture's Global Energy Board, and contributed to the UN High Level Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change. Additionally, he holds a visiting professorship at London's Imperial College Energy Futures Lab; serves on the board of Transport for London; is part of the advisory panel for the INSEAD Energy Club; and organizes the annual ecovillage gathering at Les Diablerets, Switzerland.

In February 2015, Liebreich publicly criticized the draft UN Sustainable Development Goals for their perceived anti-business stance and proposed twelve alternative objectives better aligned with commercial interests.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance

In 2009, Liebreich sold his enterprise, originally known as New Energy Finance, to Bloomberg L.P. to enhance the company's presence within the energy industry. Peter Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg L.P., highlighted that this acquisition furthered Bloomberg’s strategy to expand carbon and clean energy market initiatives. Following the sale, Liebreich took on the role of CEO at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, managing high-quality data related to energy investments. He resigned from the CEO position in January 2014 and currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board.

Politics

During 2014, speculation arose about Liebreich potentially standing as a Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, with betting odds favoring him over prominent figures such as David Lammy and George Galloway. In March 2015, he contributed an article titled “The Good Right must be a Green Right” to Tim Montgomerie’s Good Right project, promoting environmental stewardship as a fundamental conservative value.

Awards

Liebreich earned first-class honours upon graduating from Cambridge University in 1984, receiving both the Ricardo Prize for Thermodynamics and the Wyatt Prize in Engineering from Christ's College. In 1988, he was awarded a Harkness Fellowship to pursue studies at Harvard Business School, where he graduated with distinction as a Baker Scholar.

In recognition of his leadership during a rescue mission in the Bolivian Andes, he was honored in 2003 with a Testimonial on Vellum by the Royal Humane Society. New Energy Finance was named Information Provider of the Year by Euromoney Ernst & Young in 2005. Liebreich has been shortlisted three times for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2014, he received the Clean Air City Award acknowledging his efforts to enhance air quality in London.

Philanthropy

The Liebreich Foundation was founded by Michael Liebreich in 2010 as a family-run charitable organization supporting various causes at the discretion of its trustees.

In 2018, he initiated Project Bo, a fundraising campaign that collected £100,000 to aid a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit located in Bo, Sierra Leone. The donation facilitated the installation of a 20 kW solar power system with battery storage to ensure consistent electricity supply, addressing frequent blackouts that had led to equipment malfunctions and avoidable fatalities. The solar installation became operational in September 2018.

Bibliography

External links

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