Sequana Appointed Emilio Gabbrielli as Global Director
The water industry veteran will lead international efforts in desalination and water security initiatives.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
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Sequana has appointed Emilio Gabbrielli to serve as its new Global Director for Desalination and Water Security. Gabbrielli joins the firm with four decades of international experience across more than 100 countries.
Why it matters
Gabbrielli seeks to integrate desalination technology into sustainable water security strategies globally. His addition aims to enhance Sequana's international capabilities and develop new project partnerships.
Sequana currently employs 280 staff members after being founded in 2019. Gabbrielli brings 40 years of industry experience, including an 11-year tenure at Toray and seven years of independent consulting.
The players
Sequana
Sequana is a firm founded in 2019 that maintains an office in Cambridge and focuses on global water and environmental services.
Emilio Gabbrielli
Emilio Gabbrielli is a water and sustainability expert with four decades of experience working in over 100 countries.
Toray
Toray is a multinational corporation where Gabbrielli previously worked for nearly eleven years.
The details
Gabbrielli will focus on building cross-regional knowledge exchanges and improving client confidence in large-scale water projects. He intends to leverage his background to help the firm expand its reach beyond its primary markets.
Timeline
Sequana was founded in 2019.
Emilio Gabbrielli joined the firm in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment reflects a broader industry trend of firms increasingly prioritizing the integration of desalination into sustainable water-security strategies to mitigate global resource scarcity. The move positions Sequana to compete more effectively by scaling its technical advisory services across diverse international markets.
For current clients and partners, this change signals a potential expansion in the scale and reliability of available water security services. Clients may see new project opportunities emerge as the firm builds its international capabilities under new leadership.
The takeaway
The addition of a veteran leader with vast international experience underscores the critical role of expertise in managing complex water infrastructure. Firms that successfully bridge regional knowledge gaps are better positioned to meet the growing global demand for resilient water solutions.
Further reading
Learn more about executive shifts in the industry by visiting our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Smart Water Magazine.
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Do you believe your community should prioritize desalination as a primary source for water security?
