our people
Serra Verde’s people are fundamental to delivering the company’s mission. Our culture, integrity, diversity, safety and judgement are what defines the company today. Together we work to sustain a better tomorrow.
Our Leadership
Thras Moraitis
CEO
Thras Moraitis was appointed CEO of the Serra Verde Group in January 2023 and is a highly experienced global mining executive.He was previously a co-founder of X2 Resources and Group Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs and a member of the Xstrata Plc Executive Committee. At Xstrata he was responsible for strategic development, post-acquisition integration, leadership development, external affairs and investor relations as well as Xstrata’s technology business. While at Xstrata, he was involved in some 40 transactions.
Thras Moraitis began his career in the early 1980s as an engineer on the South African gold mines of General Mining Union Corporation (Gencor), followed by a series of entrepreneurial activities and, prior to joining Xstrata, was a global partner at the Monitor Group, a global advisory and merchant banking group.
Prior to his role with Vision Blue Resources, Thras was the Chief Development Officer and a member of the Executive Board of EuroChem Group AG, a global fertiliser company and, prior to this, an Executive Director at Brilliant Planet, a growth company developing a scalable method for producing microalgae for food solutions and carbon sequestration.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of FLSmidth and an advisor to Vision Blue Resources.
Thras Moraitis holds an honours BSc in Electrical Engineering, a postgraduate qualification in Computer Science and an MBA.
Ricardo Grossi
President and COO
Ricardo Grossi, the COO of Mineração Serra Verde, is a Mining Engineer with 22 years of experience.Ricardo Grossi has particular expertise in the management and operation of concentration and pelletizing plants, ore pipelines and cargo terminals. He was previously General Manager at Anglo Brazil, where he led operations at Minas Rio.
Throughout his career Ricardo Grossi has participated in national and international technical missions to assist customers and was responsible for product development processes as well as short and long-term strategic planning. His responsibilities have also included government relations as well as the management of environmental licensing processes.
Ricardo Grossi spent 16 years at Vale in different leadership positions, having been closely involved in the implementation of the Vargem Grande complex. Before joining SVPM, he served as COO at Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Entrepreneurship and Industrial Management.
Eduardo Tsuji
CFO
Eduardo Tsuji was appointed as Serra Verde’s CFO in 2021 having previously held the same position at Dommo Energia S.A., a publicly listed Brazil-based energy company.During his time at Dommo Energia, Eduardo Tsuji played a key role in leading the restructuring of company, including the execution of a new strategic plan, restructuring of the organization and reestablishment of banking and commercial relationships.
He is also an experienced banker having worked for more than a decade in corporate and investment banking, commodities financing, and structured credit for major multinational banking groups including Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, HSBC, Crédit Agricole, and ABN AMRO.
Eduardo Tsuji has an MBA from the Fundação Getulio Vargas’s Sao Paulo School of Business Administration and a certificate from the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance.
Luciano de Freitas Borges
Executive Vice President
Luciano Borges is a highly experienced geologist and mining executive who has made a significant contribution to the development of Serra Verde since 2014.He is currently Executive Vice President, responsible for corporate affairs, permitting and ESG. Luciano Borges was previously CEO of the company between 2016 and 2018.
Luciano Borges has 30 years’ experience in Brazil’s mining industry. He served as the National Secretary of Mines and Metallurgy in Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy from 1993-2001, and as Senior Advisor to the Ministry & Strategic Planning Executive Officer to the Brazilian Geological Survey.
From 2007 to 2008, he was Chief Executive Officer of Steel Mineracao do Brasil S.A., and since 2006, he has served as the Senior Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Ad Hoc Associated Advisors Inc., a technical advisory consulting firm for the mining industry. He was awarded The Order of Rio Branco, for distinguished service to Brazil in the field of international diplomacy.
Our Workforce
Our local community has a tradition of working in mining over many generations. We have over 200 employees at our operation, more than 30% of whom are women. As our operations expand we aim to continue to attract a diverse workforce from our local area of Minaçu. Read more
We believe that diversity and inclusion each provide important learning opportunities which are linked closely to our Company values. We give meaning to these values by having a safe, healthy and diverse workforce. Read more about Health & Safety and Inclusion.
Taking responsible actions to support our people is central to our culture. That includes the ability to show empathy, emotional intelligence, and an understanding about how best to achieve mutual benefit for our full range of stakeholders.
We believe that ethnic and cultural representation in our society, at work or home, is an indispensable factor to combat the fear that many people feel about what seems new, different or uncertain.
