BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pablo Fernández-Santos
Chief Executive Officer
Pablo Fernandez-Santos is the Chief Executive Officer of Basquevolt, an innovative energy storage startup developing solid-state battery technology with the goal of becoming a European leader in the field. Before taking on the CEO role, he served as Basquevolt’s Chief Technology Officer, following a 20-year career in the automotive industry with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. During his time at the Alliance, Pablo held several executive roles, including Program Director for Renault’s SUV lineup, most notably the Renault Austral, where he played a key role in the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. He also led the development of the CMFB platform, the Alliance’s first electrified common vehicle platform. Pablo holds an Engineering degree in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales of Valladolid and completed the General Management Program (GMP) at CEDEP Executive Development in Fontainebleau.
“We are proud to be part of the Upcell Alliance and to work together to create a unique European battery ecosystem, reducing the dependence on imported batteries, and ensuring a safer and greener energy future for our region.”
Olivier Colas
Director of Public Affairs, Strategic Planning
Olivier Colas is the Director of Public Affairs at Blue Solutions, a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group, where he leads efforts to promote solid-state battery technology developed and manufactured in France and Canada. Since joining the Bolloré Group in 2012, Olivier has played a key role in advancing sustainable battery solutions. Prior to that, he worked at Ernst & Young as a Senior Manager overseeing sustainable development initiatives and held leadership positions at IBM, where he led the High-Performance Computing department. He serves as a board member of several organizations, including Recharge and BEPA in Europe, as well as for the French New Energy Systems Strategic Committee. A graduate of ESIEA in Paris, Olivier is dedicated to driving the global transition to cleaner energy solutions.
“As the Director of Public Affairs at Blue Solutions, a leading solid-state battery manufacturer, our mission is to usher the world into a cleaner, more efficient future. Every kilometer traveled being a step toward sustainability resonates with the company’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and advancement of green technology. This forward-thinking approach not only aligns with our goals but also serves as a call to action for the industry to prioritize sustainability in every facet of operation.”
Adrian Spillmann
Head of Business Unit Battery Solutions,
Grinding and Dispersing Technologies
Adrian Spillman holds a Master’s degree (2004) and a PhD (2008) in Process Engineering from ETH Zurich, where he focused his doctoral research on improving the flowability of fine powders using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. He began his career at Bühler AG in Uzwil, Switzerland, working as a Project Manager in Corporate Technology and later in the Advanced Materials Division, contributing to innovations in battery, photovoltaic, and food processing technologies. From 2014 to 2022, Adrian led the Battery Solutions market segment within Bühler’s Grinding and Dispersing Technologies division, where he drove the development and commercialization of advanced solutions for the battery industry.
“As a cofounder of Upcell Alliance, Bühler is convinced collaboration among all stakeholders along the battery value chain is key to boost the efficiency of battery manufacturing and accelerate the innovation for next generation battery technologies.”
Truls Johansen
Director of Strategy
CSO
Truls Johansen is the Cofounder and Director of Strategy for Elinor Batteries. His career has been focused on strategy, design and development for large organizations both in the private and public sectors in Norway. He holds an MSc of Industrial Design Engineering and a BSc of Informatics from the Norwegian Technical University NTNU, where he also lectures Strategic Design in an executive masters programme.
“The Elinor team has been engaged in Industrial Clusters for years, and that is why we were extraordinarily impressed by UpCell. UpCell is definitely a best practice example among industrial clusters, so professionally coordinated and creating such a high degree of member engagement and motivation. In retrospect, when we reach 2030 and look back, I believe UpCell should be one of the top five reasons for the existence of a thriving and profitable European Battery Industry.”
Edouard CoudrillIer
Group Strategy & Marketing Director
Edouard Coudrillier is the Strategy & Marketing Director at Fives Group, where he leads the development and execution of growth strategies for the company. Fives designs and builds cutting-edge equipment and production lines for some of the world’s largest industrial groups, with a strong legacy in the automotive sector. The company has been a key partner to car OEMs, automating their manufacturing processes, including battery cell, module, and pack assembly. Edouard joined Fives in 2015 after seven years in strategy consulting, where he developed deep expertise in business development and corporate strategy. Since then, he has held several executive management roles within the automotive and logistics divisions, contributing to the company’s continued growth and innovation. He holds a Master’s degree from CentraleSupélec, a Master of Science from Imperial College London, and an MBA from Collège des Ingénieurs.
“Upcell is a powerful driver for building a strong European battery industry, bringing together both gigafactories and solution providers.”
Michel Terré
Full Professor
Michel Terré is a professor and researcher in electronics and telecommunications, specializing in optimizing energy consumption in radiocommunication systems. With a strong background in both industry and academia, he has made key contributions to signal processing and the evolution of mobile communication standards. He began his career as an engineer at Philips, Thalès, and Alcatel (1988–1998), before transitioning to academia as a Full Professor at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (Le Cnam). There, he led the engineering school for ten years and later chaired the Cnam Training Council. From 2020 to 2024, he served as President of HESAM University, overseeing 15 institutions and over 115,000 students. Michel holds an engineering degree from Télécom SudParis (1987), a PhD from Le Cnam (1995), and an HDR from Paris XIII (2004). He also chairs the awards committee of the French Society of Electricity, Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (SEE), affiliated with IEEE.
“Upcell Alliance is an incredible initiative where industrial and academic partners come together to discuss all the issues related to the manufacture of EV batteries.”
Michel Popovic
General Manager
COMING SOON !
Claude Laperiere
Director Global Battery Business IA
Claude Laperiere is the Global Business Leader for Industrial Automation-Powered Batteries at Schneider Electric, where he drives innovation and strategic growth in automation solutions for the battery industry. An experienced automation engineer and entrepreneur, he is known for his creative approach to industrial transformation and his ability to build strong collaborative networks. Additionally, he is a Cofounder of Upcell Alliance and the ‘Ensemble’ turnkey supplier concept, initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration and efficiency within the European battery value chain. Claude holds an engineering degree in mechatronics, robotics and automation from Le Cnam and has more than 25 years of experience in the machine-building and industrial sectors, where he has developed extensive expertise in business development, strategy, and ecosystem building.
“Together we will achieve a strong, innovative, and sustainable industry.”
Gilles Moreau
Chief Open Innovation
Sustainability Officer
Gilles Moreau is the Director of Sustainable Development at the French gigafactory Verkor and a co-founder of the company, where he plays a key role in advancing sustainable battery solutions. He previously worked as an expert in fuel cells at 3M and Renault before joining the French Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) as a project manager where he contributed to various national and European lithium-ion battery initiatives. A passionate entrepreneur in energy storage and electrochemistry, he has been instrumental in launching the French project dedicated to training in the battery industry “Ecole de la Batterie” and Upcell Alliance, fostering collaboration within the European battery ecosystem. Gilles holds an engineering degree from Grenoble INP-UGA (2003) and has built a distinguished career in battery technology and fuel cells. His expertise spans research, industrial development, and strategic collaboration, positioning him as a key figure in Europe’s energy transition.
“As Henry Ford once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself”. Upcell will be the catalyst of this collaboration spirit that is key for EU battery ecosystem.”
Alice Florent
Chief Technology Officer
Alice Florent is the Chief Technology Officer at Scantech, a French company with over 30 years of expertise in measurement and control systems for the polymer film extrusion market. She leads the company’s expansion into the energy materials sector, including electrode and fuel cell catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) applications. Alice holds a doctorate in fundamental physics from École Polytechnique in Paris and spent five years as a researcher at UCLA. She later joined CERN in Geneva as a senior scientist and key contributor to a major international collaboration involving over 2,000 researchers from more than 35 countries. In January 2023, she transitioned to industry, joining Scantech – founded by two former CERN physicists – where she now drives innovation in high-precision measurement technologies for advanced manufacturing.
“When people collaborate to build and progress in the same direction, there is no limit to what can be achieved. Upcell is our opportunity to eliminate any obstacles that may hinder the battery industry and contribute together to this exciting journey in energy transition!”
