what makes us a special Company

Gary Herman is the CEO of Advent Technologies. He is a seasoned investor with many years of investment and business experience. From 2005 to 2020 he co-managed the Strategic Turnaround Equity Partners, LP (Cayman) fund and its affiliates. From January 2011 to August 2013, he was a managing member of Abacoa Capital Management, LLC, which managed Abacoa Capital Master Fund, Ltd., focused on a Global-Macro investment strategy. From 2005 to 2020, Mr. Herman was affiliated with Arcadia Securities LLC, a New York-based broker-dealer. From 1997 to 2002, he was an investment banker with Burnham Securities, Inc. From 1993 to 1997, he was a managing partner of Kingshill Group, Inc., a merchant banking and financial firm with offices in New York and Tokyo. Mr. Herman has a B.S. from the University at Albany with a major in Political Science and minors in Business and Music. Mr. Herman has many years of experience serving on the boards of public and private companies. He presently sits on the board of SusGlobal Energy Corp. (OTCQB: SNRG).

Emory De Castro has been Advent’s Chief Technology Officer since 2013. Dr. De Castro is responsible for the overall technical, manufacturing and product development for Advent Technologies. Prior to joining Advent, Dr. De Castro was a Vice President, Business Management and the site manager for BASF Fuel Cell Inc. in Somerset NJ. At BASF Dr. De Castro led marketing and sales, business development, quality and R&D direction all cumulating in nearly a four-fold increase in revenues. As the Executive Vice President at the E-TEK Division, De Nora North America he managed operations, created a global brand, and expanded the organization’s fuel cell component business in Asia and Europe. Dr. De Castro has over 20 patent applications spanning fuel cell materials and catalysts, electrochemical technology, sensors, and a beer bottle cap that extends shelf life. He is the recipient of the 2013 Department of Energy Award for Manufacturing R&D in lowering the cost of gas diffusion electrodes and the 2005 ECS New Technology Award given to E-TEK Division, for introducing and commercializing a new electrolysis technology. Emory De Castro received his Ph.D. from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in Chemistry from Duke University. 

Jim Coffey is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Advent Technologies. Mr. Coffey has over thirty years of experience in corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and corporate finance, and intellectual property law. He has extensive international experience having closed transactions in both North and South America, Europe, and China. Throughout the course of his career, Jim has developed strong relationships and strategic contacts within the clean energy and technology sectors and specific experience in the fuel cell industry. From 2013 to 2017, he served as general counsel to another HT PEM fuel cell company. Mr. Coffey was a Gerald L. Wallace Scholar at New York University School of Law where he received an LL.M. in Corporate Law. He received his J.D. from the New England School of Law, and his B.A., cum laude, from Providence College. Mr. Coffey is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Mergers and Acquisitions. He is recognized for his work in intellectual property law by the IAM Patent 1000. Mr. Coffey was named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine. He is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Coffey is a fellow of the Boston Bar Foundation and the American Bar Foundation.

Mr. Bryan Holasek is the Chief Strategy Officer at Advent Technology, with over 42 years of experience in advancing technology from concept to product development. He was introduced to HT-PEM Fuel Cells through Trenergi Corp. He has founded several tech companies, including Revolutionary Integrations Group (AI and Machine Learning) and 369 Power and Energy Group (alternative energy systems). He served on the Board of Directors for each. Previously, Mr. Holasek was Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategy at FDE Hydro and held roles such as Chief Engineer at Shell TechWorks and Chief System Engineer at Sikorsky Innovations. He contributed to multiple advanced aircraft systems, including the NASA DARPA RSRA X-Wing, RAH-66 Comanche, and the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant. Holder of several patents, he also worked as Vice President of Technology at Ember Media, CIO of World Broadcasting Group, and on the Artificial Heart Program at ABIOMED. Mr. Holasek earned a BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University, pursued graduate studies at Polytechnic University of New York, and completed the UTC Leadership Program. His experience and background in innovation contributes to Advent Technology’s aim to advance its technological capabilities.

Dynamic International IT Executive with extensive experience leading transformative ERP, CRM, Blockchain, and AI projects for global industry leaders. Adept at driving technology strategy to unlock business value and achieve operational excellence. A strategic thinker and technology leader with a proven track record in complex, multinational environments, including European Executive Committee membership. Known for delivering results and operational improvements, including successful IT transformations in over 22 countries. Devoted to Cyber Security, AI (Certified MIT Artificial Intelligence Implications for Business Strategy), and ERP implementations with operations in mind. Among his notable achievements, he served as CIO for V Group, where he spearheaded the optimization of the waste management process for the Suez Canal, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.

Nora Gourdoupi holds a BSc in Chemistry and a PhD from the University of Patras specializing in the synthesis and characterization of polymers for fuel cell applications. She joined  Advent Technologies in 2012 as a Senior Scientist and is co inventor in 18 patents. Being part of a fast-growing Small Medium Enterprise from its foundation,  Nora  has been involved in several key business processes including materials R&D as well as project managment. She currently holds the position of SVP, Corporate Business Development of the Greek branch overseeing daily operations while  being also engaged in product development, government projects and technical sales. She enjoys using her science knowledge to understand the business and technical issues customers are facing and  offer appropriate solutions.

George Paloumpis has been a key figure at Advent Technologies since 2007, bringing expertise in R&D, Product Development, and Manufacturing. Currently serving as Chief of Operations in Patras, Greece, he holds a Master’s in Chemistry from Queen Mary’s University of London and previously worked in R&D at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. As Director of Manufacturing, he optimized production, implemented Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles, and ensured smooth integration of R&D projects into production. With a strong background in electrochemical device materials and a proven ability to lead and motivate teams, George continues to drive innovation and operational excellence at Advent Technologies.