Ernestina Benedetto joined VARO’s M&A and Strategy team in 2018. She brings more than 10 years of experience in M&A, strategy and corporate development across different industries and geographies (Europe, Asia and Latin America).

She started her career in M&A advisory in Argentina, and then moved to corporate development and strategy roles in Singapore and Switzerland.

She holds a degree in Economics and an MBA from INSEAD.

Hugues joined VARO in March 2025 as Executive Vice President, Operations, Projects & Infrastructure, and is based in Zug. 

Before joining VARO, he spent over 30 years at Shell in senior leadership roles across operations, manufacturing, and asset management. Most recently, he was EVP, Safety, Environment & Asset Management, leading a global team focused on operational excellence, safety, and decarbonisation. Previous roles include Vice President Manufacturing, General Manager of the Bukom Refinery and Petrochemicals site in Singapore, General Manager of the Shell Convent Refinery in Louisiana, USA, and Senior Manager for Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestments at Shell International, focusing on Downstream Europe. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from UTC in France and a Master in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston. 

At VARO, he is responsible for the safe and reliable operations of the company’s manufacturing and infrastructure network, driving efficiency, optimising commercial performance, and supporting strategic growth through the projects organisation.