Ernst leverages over 15 years of experience in finance leadership across clean energy, M&A, and frontier markets in East Africa and Europe.
Ernst Vriesendorp has embarked on a new entrepreneurial venture as co-founder and chief executive officer of Bouwsteen Energy.
He most recently served as group CFO at African Clean Energy (ACE) for six months starting May 2025, where he focused on strengthening financial systems, carbon financing strategy, and operational execution.
Ernst began his career as an analyst at Merrill Lynch in September 2007, working in the Benelux M&A department until September 2009. He then joined Royal Bank of Scotland as an analyst in January 2010, serving until September 2011.
In June 2012, Ernst attended the Credit Suisse Private Banking Summer Associate Program as a PWM business manager MBA summer associate. He then moved to East Africa, joining Asilia Africa as finance and business development manager in December 2013.
Ernst began working as an independent consultant in February 2015, when he founded Bouwsteen Investments, where he served as managing director until June 2021. During this period, he took on various interim executive assignments, including roles at Online Data Security as interim CFO, and business development and fundraising positions at Simu+ and RadyGo.
He joined Oedipus Brewing as CFO in February 2020, later becoming CFO/COO. In September 2019, he served as chairman of the board at The New Normal Foundation on a voluntary basis until June 2021.
Ernst was appointed director and CFO at Impact Hub Amsterdam in May 2021, later transitioning to SolarNow BV as director and CFO in June 2022. He served as managing director at BURN Manufacturing for six months in 2024.
In 2025, he took on the role of group CFO at African Clean Energy (ACE) before co-founding Bouwsteen Energy.
Ernst holds an International MBA from Instituto de Empresa (IE Business School, 2011-2012) and an MSc in accountancy and control from Universiteit van Amsterdam (2000-2007). He has completed training in impact measurement and management through the EVPA Training Academy.
