Achieving a sustainable future will be costly, requiring significant investments globally in areas such as energy transition, equality, and workforce reskilling. Considering the diverse needs of the Global North and the Global South are equally important as what is practically feasible differs between the two. Bjarni Herrera embodies this balanced approach through his in-depth knowledge of the relationship between sustainability, banking, and finance—and his global experience.
Bjarni's Nordic upbringing, Latin American heritage, and experiences living in Asia and the US have given him unique perspectives. His time at Yonsei University and its partner university, the Asian Institute of Management, was instrumental in honing his worldview, providing invaluable experiences and viewpoints that he applies in his daily practice.
Navigating Post-Financial Crisis Bank Restructuring
During the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Bjarni Herrera gained critical experience as the Secretary of the Board of Arion Bank, a leading Nordic bank. His role in its restructuring focused on fostering robust corporate and board governance and improving decision-making processes around credit decisions in a fragile post-crisis economy and was pivotal in shaping his understanding of financial stability. Starting this position at just 24 years old, Bjarni had to learn quickly and work diligently during this critical period. He is thankful for the support and learning opportunities provided to him by working closely together with a great CEO, board, and executive management team.
After five years, once the bank was in a strong position and ready to be listed on Nordic stock exchanges, Bjarni decided to venture out to continue learning and understanding the world. This decision marked the beginning of a transformative period in his career. This led him to immerse himself in Asia for four years, living in cities such as Seoul, Manila, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong. “During this time, I gained invaluable experiences studying, working, and building a global network, which has positively affected me professionally and personally. Growing up in a small town of 15,000 people in the north of Iceland and then being exposed to Asia's vast populations and great cities have provided profound experiences that will continue to influence me for the rest of my life”, asserts Bjarni.
Leading in Sustainable Finance
Following his time in Asia, Bjarni Herrera built a leading Nordic service provider instrumental in innovating and developing the first green, social, blue, and sustainability bonds for its clients in Iceland. This firm was acquired by KPMG, where he became its inaugural Head of Sustainability. Bjarni was hired as COO of CICERO Shades of Green, a globally renowned and awarded firm in green finance verifications. Through innovation and foresight, it positively influenced the global sustainable finance market. “Being acquired by KPMG and S&P was a great achievement for all stakeholders. I am thankful to have been entrusted to lead great teams, build, and manage these companies”, says Bjarni.
Throughout his career, Bjarni has worked across sectors with global household names and the sovereigns of Iceland and India on their inaugural sustainable bonds, financing gender issues, and environmental projects. At Accrona and Post50 Ventures, Bjarni will now continue to focus on harmonizing innovation, best practices, and pragmatic approaches to sustainable finance, providing his clients worldwide with valuable services.
Fostering Team Excellence and Company Culture
Bjarni Herrera's management style revolves around building great teams that collaborate, communicate effectively, and deliver outstanding outcomes. His approach is deeply influenced by his relentless commitment to fostering a company culture built on trust and driven by smart and kind people solving difficult challenges. In Bjarni's teams, victories are celebrated, and mistakes are to be learned from.
Yonsei University expanded my horizons significantly, enabling me to transform insights from Asia into opportunities for growth and innovation in sustainable finance globally
Bjarni always strives for his team to be better than they were the previous month, emphasizing continuous learning and improvements. “I have great expectations of my people and seeing them improve, grow, and deliver outstanding outcomes. I strive to be a kind manager and am pleased that many former team members are as eager to work with me again as I am with them,” adds Bjarni.
A Key to Building a Sustainable Future
Bjarni Herrera's commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in his belief that we can treat our Earth and people better and that positive environmental and social impacts can be achieved with finance as a tool. Bjarni's experiences and outlook are encapsulated in his new book, Supercharging Sustainability, published in 2024. The book is aimed at corporate and financial market employees and managers in both the Global North and South.
Bjarni concludes, “I am still young and learning, but with my book, I wanted to give back and help others progress faster in understanding the big picture of sustainability and sustainable finance. I am happy the reception has been great, with good reviews, book awards, and critical feedback.”
Bjarni Herrera, Founder & CEO, Accrona
Bjarni Herrera, Founder and CEO of Accrona and Post50, brings a rich blend of Nordic, Latin American, and international experiences to sustainable finance. His diverse career spans senior banking, finance, and professional services roles. Bjarni was the Secretary of the Board of Arion Bank during its restructuring after the 2008 financial crisis. He co-founded a sustainability consulting firm acquired by KPMG, where he then served as Head of Sustainability. Later, he became the COO of CICERO Shades of Green when S&P Global acquired it. Bjarni is a practitioner, leader, listener, advisor, talent developer, and now an author.
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