The man who doesn't play by the rule book

CEO of Red Rocket, Matteo Brambilla is aman onamission to improve big energy

- Sanelisiwe Maliza

RUGBY IS NOT A JUST SPORT

FOR MATTEO BRAMBILLA, IT IS A WAY OF LIFE. "I started playing rugby young. I played throughout university in Italy, England and France while I was working; always amateur level, but for the love of the game, for a few beers afterwards," says the former rugby player and CEO of renewable energy company, Red Rocket.

He has carried the love he has for the sport into the boardroom.

While consulting companies and business magazines recommend that executives use a range of data, advanced analytics, and intelligent algorithms to make business decisions, Matteo used an unorthodox method to decide his fate when planning the future of his renewable energy company.

"Back in 2011, we needed to expand outside Italy and my simple idea was to check the IRB world rugby ranking and to see if there were renewable energy programmes in those countries. I first checked New Zealand, and there was nothing happening. There wasn't anything happening in Australia, either. That is how I landed up in South Africa, then number three in the ranking."

This out-of-the-box coincidence is what changed my life," says Matteo.

Fast forward to 12 years later, and the business that was established with the help of rugby rankings and pretty unconventional decision-making has raised another R3 billion in funding from management and investment partners.

Meet the real Matteo Brambilla

From the rugby field to the boardroom, the story of Matteo Brambilla is one of agility, grit and hard work.

The Italian started his career as an Auditor at Price Waterhouse Cooper and he briefly worked at Prada, where he was the Assistant of the Group Financial Director.