Guillermo Quincke joined LAB+ as General Manager in mid-March 2026. A certified public accountant with extensive experience in the financial sector, he discusses how his background supports him in his new role and what motivated him to join the company builder.
Could you tell us about your professional journey so far?
I am a Certified Public Accountant, graduated from the University of the Republic. I have worked for more than 30 years, initially as an auditor and later in finance teams across companies in different industries. The most significant part of my professional career has been with UPM.
In 2005, I had the opportunity to join the project to build the pulp mill in Fray Bentos. Along with the decision to become part of that major project came the need to relocate to Fray Bentos in December 2005. I am deeply grateful for the unconditional support of Marcia as we embarked on the challenge of leaving Montevideo in pursuit of a great professional opportunity.
Throughout my career, I have worked in Finance and Control, managing local treasury operations while maintaining continuous contact with the group’s central treasury team in Helsinki, Finland. At UPM, I was responsible for supplier payments, relationships with local banks, and the management of bank guarantees and insurance required by the local operation.
I first worked on the construction of the Fray Bentos mill and later on its day-to-day operations, until the project to build the pulp mill near Pueblo Centenario and Paso de los Toros began. During that project, I also managed the local treasury function, all project-related payments, and, as mentioned, supplier bank guarantees.
Projects of this scale highlight the importance of planning, teamwork, monitoring, and control. I remained with UPM until February of this year, when I concluded a wonderful chapter of my professional and personal life closely connected to the city of Fray Bentos.
What motivated you to join LAB+?
I am 56 years old and had spent 21 years working in a fascinating industry and sector, but I was entering the final stage of my professional career and wanted to do something different.
By then, Milena (25), Tomás (23), and Bautista (20), who were fortunate to grow up in such a wonderful environment as a small city on the banks of the Uruguay River, were already pursuing their university studies in Montevideo. That increased my desire to return to living and working in the capital.
With great pride and enthusiasm, I joined LAB+ three months ago.
What motivates me most is LAB+’s mission: to promote science and invest capital in innovative ideas. I am excited by the new challenges that emerge every day, as well as by the human-centered dimension of the work—the idea that what we do at LAB+ can genuinely help improve people’s lives.
What does your role as LAB+ General Manager involve?
My role is to ensure that the LAB+ program meets the quality standards required by the different stakeholders involved in the project, including the startups created through the program, the Institute’s units, and investors. I am also particularly responsible for the administrative, financial, and compliance management of the investment fund, ensuring the proper execution of fundraising activities, investments, and reporting to the various stakeholders.
How does your professional experience help you in this new role?
My background is in finance, administration, and project management. Those fields require a high degree of organization, attention to detail, and the ability to design and follow structured plans. At LAB+, I feel I can contribute precisely those strengths: organization, follow-through, planning, and coordination.
As a company builder, LAB+ has been growing steadily, and the goal is to continue supporting that growth with robust processes and solid management practices. All of this helps provide the foundation for what truly matters: the scientific projects and innovation that drive the organization forward.
