A firm believer in clean, green energy, Maurizio La Noce is one of the driving forces behind a landmark gas network that links the UAE, Qatar and Oman. He tells Sara Sayed how he juggles being a father, mentor and pioneer in alternative energy.
How do you transform huge seemingly impossible dreams into sustainable development projects that will enhance the lives of future generations? You could start by hiring someone like Maurizio La Noce.
While La Noce is, by his own admission, hardly a one-man show, he has the ability to recognise a great idea and bring together the right mix of talent to see it through to completion.
The 50-year-old Italian is executive director of the Energy and Industry unit of Mubadala, an organisation wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi that invests in ventures with the aim of developing the emirate's economy and people.
In this role, he is responsible for investment in oil, gas, power, water, renewable energy and industrial projects.
A passionate believer that clean technology and processes lead to a healthy environment and robust bottom line, as a young industrial electronics graduate he began his career by introducing photovoltaic (solar) technology solutions to European companies in the mid-1980s.
After working in various capacities with energy and oil giants Atlantic Richfield Company (Arco) and Enron, La Noce joined the Offsets Group - also owned by the Abu Dhabi government - in 2001 and helped to establish Mubadala in 2004.
One of his finest achievements has been contributing to the commercial development of Dolphin Energy's gas project, which took over seven years and multiple partnerships to achieve.
Through its supply of natural gas from Qatar, the project brings together the UAE, Qatar and Oman in a regional energy network.
However, he feels his greatest accomplishment to date is helping his wife, Leslie, raise three independent, healthy and bright children.
Family is of utmost important to many Italians. And La Noce's family in Milan is no exception. Indeed, they were shocked when at 25 he was offered a job in London - and accepted.
Despite their pleas for him to stay, he charted a course that has led him far far away from his relatives to England, the US and ultimately to the UAE.
Along the way he picked up a love for American football (although his passion for European football never ceased), met his wife at an unforgettably romantic black tie ball, transformed himself into an 'oil man' and hatched a dream to link three GCC countries through one gas network.
"The Dolphin Energy project is the genesis of Mubadala," says La Noce.
"It is so much more than simply a gas project. It is the first undertaking in the region in which three neighbouring countries ... are physically linked to produce, transport and market competitively priced natural gas.
"The benefits of this landmark partnership for future development are numerous in terms of job creation, infrastructure development and future energy supplies.
"It also serves as a testament to the value of commercial collaboration between leading GCC countries for future regional development."
La Noce speaks with the pride befitting a father. The most enjoyable part of his job, he says, is being a mentor to young bright Emiratis who will, in time, be tomorrow's leaders.
"I see myself primarily as a developer of young professionals," says the Italian.
"In the distant future, when I am retired and hanging out in my house in Florida or Italy, my best days will be when I receive phone calls from young leaders here in the UAE. That will be my legacy. There are some very talented young UAE nationals who are well on their way to becoming the future business leaders."
I
I have always been interested in environmental matters. What's great is that people are now realising that environmental sustainability is commercially viable. It makes economic and social sense.
To be involved in the development of the Masdar Initiative is like a dream come true. Masdar is a Mubadala initiative that will reinvent energy as we know it.
It is a long-term programme that develops alternative energy through partnerships in education, research, technology, innovation and the development of a truly green, totally clean community.
One of the most rewarding moments in my professional life was when I visited some remote villages in Africa where international non-profit organisations (NPOs) had purchased and installed photovoltaic power stations to provide electricity for underground water pumping systems to provide water for the surrounding area.
The hardware, purchased from us at Arco Solar, was expensive but once it was installed the villages got water and electricity and it cost them nothing to operate or maintain. And it was clean sustainable energy.
The villagers no longer had to walk for several kilometres to fetch water ... they had clean water in their backyards. It really changed their lives.
I decided to accept the position as general manager of Arco in Dubai (in 1995) mainly for family reasons. I was travelling all the time as the head of international oil trading and it just wasn't a lifestyle that benefited the family unit.
I really believe that both parents need to make family their number one priority. Leslie and I decided long ago that I would provide for the family and she would raise the children in a loving and supportive environment.
We kept that commitment to each other and our children. We were able to settle here easily. The UAE provided a great base for raising a family.
I had the good fortune of being mentored by experienced leaders with admirable qualities. When I first arrived in the UAE, one of the closest advisers to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, gave me some advice which proved to be extremely valuable over the years.
He advised me to be patient and to persevere: "Never take no for an answer and if you want something don't ask for it. You need to show respect and demonstrate that you care about people. In the end, things will work out for the best."
I was influenced to a great extent by my parents, Mario and Edda. They have been happily married for almost 52 years and have given me a solid foundation and a set of key values - respect, hard work, love and family.
Without which you can forget about living life to the fullest. My father worked in advertising sales and later opened a small advertising agency.
My mother focused on giving to her family ... keeping everyone going and building a solid home for her children.
ME
Me and my childhood:
I was born in Milan, Italy in 1957. What I remember most about growing up is how simple life was back then. We had no TV or electronic gadgets, so most of our free time was spent with family or doing social activities. I played football outside with my friends every day.
I spent a lot of my time outdoors, skiing in the winter, swimming and sailing in the summer.
That was the 1960s. In the 1970s, things in Italy began to change. The political climate made life difficult for everyone. The Red Brigade was organised, a violent group with communist ties that routinely attacked innocent civilians.
There was also an extreme right wing group, the
neo-fascist party, Movimento Sociale Italiano (MSI). At the time society was polarised - even families. There was constant political anxiety.
The groups fought each other and people who were not interested in choosing sides or getting involved were viewed with suspicion and hostility.
During my teenage years everything deteriorated, including the education system. I began to feel like I didn't belong to that environment.
Then one day while I was riding my motorbike with a friend, I accidentally drove close to a crowd. They attacked us and almost killed us ... I still have a large scar on my head from that incident.
At that point I really couldn't see a future in a place where innocent people were not permitted to go about their business in peace.
I studied industrial electronics in Italy and in 1981 got a job as a computer programmer with Sperry Univac, a leading computer manufacturer at the time. There I spent all day in front of a screen. I really (pined for) excitement and human interaction.
After a few months my boss called me into his office and said, "I am very pleased with your work. One day, you could have my job." That statement stopped me in my tracks. I thought, "I am 24, is this what I have to look forward to when I am 45? This is not for me!"
Like many traditional countries in Europe, age determined rank, position, stature. Until you had grey hair, you didn't have much credibility to do anything. There was really a glass ceiling for young people who wanted to excel.
Me and my calling:
I resigned and got a job in a small company owned by one of my father's associates, Achille Manfredi, a very serious businessman who became a great mentor. At 40, he was a young entrepreneur by Italian standards.
He taught me a lot about business and life. He represented US companies which produced high-tech components for the aerospace industry. Working in a small, entrepreneurial environment I learned a lot about how to build and promote new products, ideas and projects.
One of our partners, Arco, decided to set up Arco Solar Industries in Milan and offered me a job. Arco developed photovoltaic modules, which are used to produce electricity from sunlight. It was a very revolutionary concept at the time.
I was responsible for promoting solar technology to the aerospace industry and remote locales in need of maintenance and fuel-free power. There were a lot of sceptics and I faced a lot of rejection. It took a while, but I was able to establish a markets in Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
In 1983, I was asked to manage the Arco Solar Energy operation for the whole of Europe and to move to England. My friends, family and girlfriend all advised me not to leave, but I felt this was the opportunity I had been looking for. So I packed my bags and left.
Me and the world outside:
It turned out that the move was quite socially traumatic. In Italy families are close. Like the rest of my friends, I was 25 and living with my parents. I found the scene in London completely different. I had to live independently and take care of everything.
At the same time, I had this huge responsibility to develop this new business. I remember staying up at night thinking, "How will I do this?"
I quickly realised that you really have to stretch people to their limits to discover what they are capable of. When the bar is set so high, you really push yourself to make it.
It was also at that point that I understood Einstein's phrase: "Imagination is more valuable than knowledge". When you are faced with new situations and new challenges, you can't rely on old knowledge. You need to be creative.
By 1987, I had increased the solar business's revenue 30-fold, set up two assembly plants and had the business poised for further growth. It was around that time that Arco called me to its Dallas offices in order to make an 'oil man' out of me.
The oil and gas industry was going through a profound transformation - the deregulation of the gas industry, tougher environmental regulation, industry consolidation and the emergence of new, aggressive players created a highly competitive environment that was somewhat alien to the old guard.
During my interview with the president of Arco International, I summarised my background and told him that I knew very little about the oil and gas industry. To my surprise he said, "Great! That's exactly what I need. I need people who can build business."
I accepted a job with the international division of the company.
Me and Leslie:
It was the winter of 1988 and since I was in Texas for the interviews, I decided to spend Christmas vacation with my uncle in Florida. My uncle had a great fashion business in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.
He hosted a table at the Red Cross Ball and tried to fix me up with a date for the event, but none of them worked out. So I went along and there I met Leslie, who was also alone at the ball.
What a wonderful setting to meet! Everybody there was in a tuxedo or a gown. It was like a dream. I proposed to Leslie six days later. She replied, "Are you out of your mind?" Leslie had two little children from a previous marriage.
By August 1989, we were married with two kids, a dog, a big house and a pool. It was like winning an instant family. By the following April we had our third child. We had what most people take years to accomplish.
Me and working in Texas:
Before moving permanently to Dallas to work for Arco International, I went back to England and took courses at the College of Petroleum Studies in Oxford.
After a couple of years in planning and commercial roles, in the spring of 1991, I was appointed to build and manage the International Crude Oil Trading and Marketing Department. We were producing oil almost everywhere in the world and I was responsible for selling it.
Most of my time was spent travelling. It was not the best situation to be in when you have a young family. When the opportunity arose to settle in Dubai as general manager of Arco, I took it. I moved here in late 1995 and my family came in March 1996.
I'll never forget my first trip to Dubai: it was 1989 and I stayed at the Hilton next to the World Trade Centre. I looked out of my window at the small road that led to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi, four small buildings and a sandpit. Back then, driving to Abu Dhabi was a major endeavour!
The rise of Dolphin Energy:
While with Arco, Dubai from 1995 to 1999, I was part of a small team trying to sell Qatari gas to Dubai. The deal fell through mainly because the Arco commercial efforts were lacking the right support at different levels.
In March 1999, when BP took over Arco, I made a decision that profoundly changed my professional life. I decided to join Enron. It was known as being innovative, touted by all as the company of the future.
I was responsible for developing business in the Middle East and within nine months we had signed the partnership forming Dolphin Energy with the Offsets Group and Total. We secured participation in oil and gas ventures in Saudi Arabia ... (and) developed a gas distribution network in Oman.
During the summer of 2000, the new mantra of 'capital velocity' prevailed: why invest in long-term projects with a payback period that span many years when you can invest in trading for immediate returns?
Fuelled by extraordinary economic growth and strong commodities demand ... (this) new business model was simple: Enron did not need to own any capital-intensive hardware.
In the Middle East, it became clear that our development methods and deals no longer met the new corporate vision. In the spring of 2001, Enron officially pulled out of virtually every deal we developed because it was capital intensive and did not meet the new model.
At a meeting in Paris when (Enron) formally announced to Total and Offsets about the intention to leave the Dolphin project, the CEO, Ahmad Ali Al Sayegh, took me aside and said, "When Enron leaves, we would like you to stay with us."
The rest is history. I joined the Offsets Group, majority owner of the Dolphin project, and we spent several months in an auction process that resulted in bringing in Occidental Petroleum as a partner.
A few weeks ago, Dolphin began selling and delivering gas to customers in the UAE. Twelve years after my arrival in the UAE to work on gas projects, we are finally bringing gas from Qatar to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This has been my long-term dream - a commitment that I can finally see materialising.
MYSELF
What aspects of your life are you proudest of?
I am really satisfied at how things have turned out, although 26 years ago, when I was panicking about becoming a 40-something stuck in a dingy industrial office in Milan, I never would have imagined what the future had in store.
I am very proud of my children.
My eldest son, Nicholas, is 26. He graduated with a BA in Oriental studies and is fluent in Chinese. He is now living in Kunming, China, working on real estate projects, running a cafe, learning Chinese medicine and teaching English.
Christina is 24 and graduated a year ago from the University of California, Santa Barbara with an art major. She is working as a commercial interior designer. And Valentina, who is 17, is a senior at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. She is currently at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a short internship.
Sport, especially football, has been a great source of satisfaction for me, both as a participant and a spectator.
I have had the good fortune to witness the Italian national team winning the FIFA World Cup twice!
This year Leslie surprised me for my 50th birthday by getting tickets to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. She even managed to get passes to the club house. I don't know how she did it.
But on my birthday, I had the chance to live a golfer's dream, meeting the best in the sport and discussing the game with them!
Do you feel it's important to dwell on the past in addition to focusing on the present?
Professionally, I look back at what I learned from others, partnerships and past accomplishments. But I prefer to focus on the present and the future.
There's so much going on in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Presently we are developing the world's largest aluminium smelter, which will be located in Taweelah, Abu Dhabi. In partnership with Dubal, we have created a company Emirates Aluminium.
The great thing about being in the UAE and working at Mubadala is that you can have a great vision and realise it quickly.
How do you enjoy living in the UAE?
Abu Dhabi has opened its doors to us and given us phenomenal opportunities. The great thing is that the government of Abu Dhabi is committed to improving all aspects of life here.
On the cultural side, for example, Abu Dhabi is making a huge investment in Saadiyat Island, opening museums, theatres, galleries and art and film institutes.
There are not huge monetary returns in these investments. They are investments that nurture the hearts, minds and souls of people. This is the beginning of a great cultural and artistic movement.
When you look at the big picture, there is a sense of optimism here. In Abu Dhabi there's a drive and passion for the future combined with a respect for the past. It is a place of opportunity for dreamers and builders alike.
