what makes us a special Company

Gary Herman is the interim 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 boards of Siyata Mobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYTA), Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRPX), SRM Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRM), LQR House, Inc. (NASDAQ: LQR), and 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.

Steve has over 30 years of experience in advanced technology development.  His work on fuel cells began in 2003, while developing advanced manufacturing process technology for the world’s first fully automated HT-PEM pilot manufacturing line deployed in Frankfurt, Germany.  Steve led laser system development on a $5M second generation Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) line deployed in the US. He has substantial experience collaborating with government stakeholders, including: a $2.3M US DOE program on Adaptive Process Controls and Ultrasonics for HT-PEM MEA manufacturing; a $5M National Science Foundation IGERT program focused on Fuel Cell Manufacturing, Materials Development, and Modeling; and multiple programs for the US DOD.  Steve has also led development in powder-bed additive manufacturing, winning funding from America Makes and NASA, and he has been involved in a variety of robotics and automation programs.  Steve earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Union College, and master’s and doctorate degrees in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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.

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.

Dr. Jochen Baurmeister has more than 25 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of fuel cells and stack components.. In 1995, Dr Baumeister worked at the Hoechst AG as head of a development lab and started becoming involved in the manufacturing of fuel cell electrodes. In 1999, he joined the fuel cell spinoff of the Hoechst AG as project manager of fuel cells. In 2004, he became the vice president of technology, responsible for production of membrane-electrode assemblies, as well as customer support in the U.S., Europe, and East Asia. In 2011, Dr. Baurmeister joined Serenergy and fischer eco solutions, appointed as a board member of Serenergy A/S. Dr. Baurmeister is the author of more than 10 scientific publications and patent families. He received a M.Sc. Degree and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Kiel in 1994. Afterwards, he attended a postdoctoral program in technical chemistry at the DECHEMA (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chemisches Apparatewesen, Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V.) in Frankfurt. Dr. Baumeister was born and raised in northern Germany.

Dr. Olga Bereketidou has over 15 years of experience in the science and technology of new materials, hydrogen technologies, renewable energy sources, energy solutions and various environmental applications. Throughout her career, Olga has been deeply involved in project management, gaining remarkable management experience of directing, leading, planning and managing a variety of projects. She has highly – developed organizational, planning and negotiation skills, excellent communication qualifications and problem-solving abilities.
She joined Advent technologies in 2021, and she currently holds the position of Public Funding and Regional Manager, overseeing company’s funding opportunities, EU and governmental projects, projects’ implementation and the daily operations in Western Macedonia (Kozani) company’s offices in Greece. She enjoys applying her scientific knowledge to contribute to business development, as well as finding ways to overcome challenges and help successful projects implementation. Dr. Olga Bereketidou holds an Integrated Master’s degree in chemical engineering, from the Department of Chemical Engineering, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PhD (Catalysis) from the University of Western Macedonia, while she completed her postgraduate diploma in program entitled “Catalysis and protection of the environment” in Hellenic Open University in Patras.

Anastasia Koutsomitopoulou, Technology Manager Fuel Cells & Hydrogen, with over 15 years of experience, has consistently excelled in technology management, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship. She has significant experience in both academia and the aerospace manufacturing industry in the UK, where she contributed to pioneering advancements in composite materials and manufacturing processes, collaborating with leading universities and aerospace organizations. As a Technology Manager at Advent Technologies, she has led groundbreaking developments in fuel cells and hydrogen technology, creating innovative technical solutions and playing a pivotal role in securing substantial grant funding.

She received her Ph.D. in the Interdepartmental Program of Postgraduate Studies in Science and Technology of Polymers, affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics at the University of Patras, following a M.Sc. in the same program and B.Sc. from the same University.