André Salcedo

André Salcedo serves as CEO of Sabesp (Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo), the largest water and wastewater utility in the Americas. Sabesp provides water supply and sewage collection and treatment services to approximately 28 million people across the São Paulo metropolitan area and hundreds of other municipalities in São Paulo state — Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state. Sabesp's privatization in 2024 was a landmark event in Brazilian infrastructure — Equatorial Energia, one of Brazil's most successful private utility operators, acquired a strategic controlling stake. The privatization is expected to accelerate investment in infrastructure modernization, reduce water losses (which remain above 20%), expand sewage treatment coverage (a significant portion of collected sewage still lacks adequate treatment), and improve operational efficiency. The company operates one of the world's most complex urban water systems, including the Cantareira reservoir system that supplies much of São Paulo's water. Water security has been a recurring concern — severe droughts (most notably in 2014-2015) have stressed the system and highlighted the need for infrastructure resilience. Key stock drivers include tariff adjustments (regulated by ARSESP), privatization-driven efficiency gains, capital investment acceleration, water loss reduction, regulatory environment, and the macro impact of Brazilian interest rates on utility valuations.