Marcos Antunes

About Me

Transforming hydraulics expertise into business growth across North and Latin America

20+ Years ExperienceBilingual LeaderMBA Graduate

My Professional Journey

My career in the hydraulics industry began over two decades ago as a Sales Engineer at Bosch Rexroth in Brazil, where I discovered my passion for combining technical expertise with strategic business development. Starting with a territory generating less than 2M BRL in annual sales, I grew it to over 5M BRL within two years—not through aggressive tactics, but through deep customer relationships and consultative problem-solving.

This early success taught me a fundamental truth: sustainable growth comes from understanding customer challenges and delivering solutions that create lasting value. It's a principle that has guided every role I've held since.

As I progressed through engineering management and sales leadership roles at Bosch Rexroth, I learned to balance technical precision with business acumen. Leading a team of 20 engineers while maintaining P&L responsibility showed me that great leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about empowering teams to solve complex problems together.

My move to HAWE Hydraulik Canada as National Sales Manager presented the ultimate challenge: building a coast-to-coast presence in one of the world's most geographically diverse markets. Over three years, I increased national revenue by 30% by implementing a consultative approach, expanding into Western Canada, and building a healthy distributor ecosystem based on partnership rather than transactions.

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work across multiple continents—from Brazil to Canada, with extensive experience in Latin American markets. This global perspective has taught me that while markets differ, the fundamentals of business success remain constant: understand your customers, empower your people, and execute with discipline.

What Drives Me

I'm energized by transformation—taking organizations from where they are to where they need to be. Whether it's expanding into new markets, optimizing distributor networks, or implementing data-driven sales processes, I thrive on building systems that deliver sustainable results.

What sets me apart is my ability to bridge technical and commercial worlds. Having spent years as an engineer before moving into sales and management, I understand both the technical complexity of hydraulic solutions and the business imperatives that drive purchasing decisions. This dual perspective allows me to build credibility with engineering teams while delivering the revenue growth that businesses demand.

I believe in leading by example and creating environments where people can do their best work. The 15% improvement in forecast accuracy I achieved at HAWE wasn't just about implementing a CRM system—it was about creating a culture of accountability, transparency, and data-driven decision-making that empowered the sales team to take ownership of their results.

Career Aspirations

I'm at a point in my career where I'm ready to take on broader leadership responsibility—specifically, a General Manager role where I can leverage my 20+ years of hydraulics expertise, proven track record of revenue growth, and cross-functional leadership experience to drive organizational success.

I'm particularly excited about opportunities in the Canadian market, where I've built deep relationships and demonstrated my ability to navigate regional complexities. The hydraulics industry is at an inflection point, with electrification, sustainability, and digital transformation creating both challenges and opportunities. I want to lead an organization through this transition, positioning it as a market leader while maintaining the customer-centric values that have always driven my success.

My ideal next role combines strategic leadership with operational accountability—where I can set vision and direction while remaining close enough to execution to ensure results. I want to build high-performing teams, develop future leaders, and create a culture where innovation and customer focus drive sustainable competitive advantage.

Ultimately, I measure success not just by revenue numbers, but by the impact I have on people—customers who trust us to solve their toughest challenges, team members who grow into their full potential, and stakeholders who see consistent, profitable growth.

Leadership Philosophy

People First: Great results come from great teams. I invest in developing people, creating clear expectations, and providing the support they need to succeed.

Data-Driven Decisions: Intuition matters, but data provides clarity. I believe in building systems that give visibility into performance and enable informed decision-making.

Customer-Centric Growth: Sustainable revenue comes from solving real customer problems, not pushing products. I build organizations around consultative selling and long-term partnerships.

Accountability & Transparency: I set clear goals, measure progress honestly, and hold myself and my teams accountable for results. When we miss targets, we learn and adjust.

Continuous Improvement: Markets evolve, technologies change, and customer needs shift. I foster cultures where learning, experimentation, and adaptation are valued.

Beyond Work

Based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, I've made Canada my home while maintaining strong connections to my Brazilian roots. This bicultural perspective has enriched both my personal and professional life, giving me unique insights into building bridges across cultures and markets.

I'm passionate about mentoring emerging leaders in the hydraulics industry, sharing lessons learned from two decades of successes and failures. I believe in giving back to the industry that has given me so much.

When I'm not focused on business growth, you'll find me staying active, exploring Canada's natural beauty, and spending time with family. I believe that balance and perspective outside of work make me a better leader inside of it.

Education & Continuous Learning

My MBA in Sales Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas complemented my Bachelor's in Electrical Industrial Engineering, giving me the business acumen to match my technical foundation. But formal education is just the beginning—I'm committed to continuous learning through industry conferences, leadership development programs, and staying current with emerging trends in hydraulics, electrification, and business strategy.