Kurt Sorschak: Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
Mr. Sorschak co-founded Xebec Adsorption Inc., and developed it from a local compressed air and gas dryer manufacturer into an internationally active gas purification company. He played an important role in establishing strong relationships with different universities and laboratories in Canada and the United States of America, for the development of innovative gas purification and liquefaction technologies. In 2008, he became the sole director of Xebec China, which serves the Chinese and Asian/Pacific market with gas purification and filtration equipment. From 2004 to 2007, he was the General Manager of the Canadian division of Domnick Hunter’s air dryer manufacturing facility, at that time the largest adsorption dryer plant in North America. In 2005, he became the General Manager for the Xebec division of Parker-Hannifin Corporation, a U.S. based multinational, after Parker-Hannifin Corporation bought Domnick Hunter Ltd. In June 2007, he bought the Xebec division from Parker-Hannifin through a management buy-out transaction with two other partners. Mr. Sorschak also worked in different managerial capacities in Europe. He obtained an Associate Degree from the American University in Paris, France, in 1982, and a Masters of Law Degree from the University of Munich, Germany, in 1988.
Dr. Denis Connor: Director
Dr. Connor was the founding Chief Executive Officer and President of QuestAir, which merged with Xebec in early 2009. He was the CEO of Angstrom Power Inc., a micro fuel cell company, from 2003 to 2005. From 1990 to 1998 he consulted to technology start-ups, serving on the boards of a number of such companies. From 1988 to 1990 he headed the Science Council of British Columbia. From 1976 to 1988 he was with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. in various executive roles from Vice President, Engineering to Executive Vice President, Business Development. He is a director of General Fusion and is the past chair of the BC Hydrogen Highway Steering Committee. He recently stepped down as a member of the Premier's Technology Council, an advisory group to the Premier of British Columbia. He was a member of the Government of Canada Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustainable Energy Science and Technology Priorities, a founding director of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Canada, and Epic Data International Inc. Dr. Connor is a professional engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Peter Paul Praxmarer: Director
Mr. Praxmarer is the founder and managing director of Ca'bea GmbH, an industrial management consultancy with assignments in the metal, energy, and filtration industries, based in Vienna, Austria, since April 2007. From 2002 to 2006 he led Domnick Hunter Ltd.’s compressed air and gas business as Chief Operating Officer of the Industrial Division and member of the global business management board. During his tenure at Domnick Hunter Ltd., he developed the business as the leading provider of filtration, separation and purification equipment to the global compressed air industry with a worldwide network of marketing and manufacturing operations. His previous assignments include senior management positions in hi-tech engineering companies such as Siemens and Honeywell Europe, encompassing research and development management for innovative digital telecommunication networks and strategic business development for industrial and environmental controls in Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Praxmarer obtained a Master's degree in electrical engineering from Stuttgart University in Germany in 1982 and in Business Administration from INSEAD in France in 1989.
John Shakeshaft: Director
Mr. Shakeshaft is chairman of Ludgate Environmental, an AIM listed investment company specializing in the cleantech sector, also of Valiance Special Opportunities Fund of Funds and Co-Investment Fund and investment committee chair and advisory director of Corestone, AG, a Zug based fiduciary investment manager owned by Robeco. He is also a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Tele2 AB, a telecom company listed on the Stockholm Bourse, of Carnegie, AB, an investment bank listed on the Stockholm Bourse, of TEB, NV, a trade finance bank owned by BNP Paribas and the Colakoglu Group in Amsterdam and of TT Electronics plc, an electronic sensors manufacturing company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Mr. Shakeshaft has over 20 years corporate finance experience in the City of London and held senior positions at Lazard, Barings and Morgan Stanley. He is also an external member of the audit committee of Cambridge University, a trustee of the Institute of Historical Research, London University and chairman of The Bush Theatre. He was educated at Cambridge, Princeton and London Universities.
