Our Team

Our team consists of professionals with diverse backgrounds in business, engineering, software, chemical, and environmental fields. We are a team of entrepreneurs, technologists, operators and financiers.

Vishal Shah

Founder & CEO

Vishal Shah is a leading expert in the field of Clean energy and has over 20 years of experience working with companies in the Global Clean Energy sectors as an investor and operator.
Prior to founding Avina Clean Hydrogen, Vishal was a partner at a leading clean energy private equity firm, where he oversaw investments and the build-out of renewable development platforms. Earlier in his career, Vishal held several leadership roles as Managing Director and Head of Global Clean tech coverage at firms such as Deutsche Bank and Barclays Capital.
Vishal has received several nationally recognized awards for excellence in the solar and clean energy sector. He has worked closely with global and state governments in advising Clean Energy policies, particularly in markets such as China, India, Japan, and the U.S. He was a top-ranked Clean tech equity analyst by Institutional Investor from 2009 to 2017.
Vishal has a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and an MBA from INSEAD, France.

Steven Berkenfeld

Board Director

Steven Berkenfeld is a seasoned industry veteran within both the clean energy and finance industries, spending more than 30 years at Lehman Brothers/Barclays Capital. Most recently, he served as a managing director in investment banking for Barclays Capital for 11 years. In this role, he was a senior sponsor of its Social Impact Banking Initiative and co-headed the firm’s Cleantech Initiative. He also led the banking effort for emerging industrial technology companies. Previously, he was a managing director at Lehman Brothers where he spent 22 years in various senior roles including chief investment officer of the private equity division, chairman of the Transaction Approval Committee, and head of the Legal, Compliance and Audit departments. From 2012-2018, Berkenfeld also was a board member and chair of the Sierra Club Foundation, a non-profit entity whose mission is to promote efforts to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment.

John Walsh

Board Director

John Walsh is Senior Vice President of Investor and Government Relations of Chart Industries, Inc., joining in 2022. He is responsible for managing Chart Industries’ relationships with various stakeholders including shareholders, government and trade organizations, and credit holders. Chart Industries is a leading systems and solutions provider for industrial gas, energy transition, and hydrogen markets. Prior to joining the Company, John spent 15 years covering the Multi-Industry and Electrical Equipment sector as a sell-side analyst. During this time, John received Institutional Investor’s “Rising Star” distinction. Most recently, John was a Director at Credit Suisse. He previously worked at Vertical Research Partners and Barclays Capital. John has a passion for sustainability and holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) accreditation. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Philosophy from Boston College.

Prasad Devineni

Senior Vice President Project Execution

Prasad Devineni is a highly accomplished professional with a Ph.D. in Chemical and Fuels Engineering and over 35 years of experience in the chemical industry. His expertise lies in global manufacturing/operations, marketing and sales for chemicals, particularly in the areas of methanol, syngas, and chemicals/catalysts. Prasad has successfully managed and executed large-scale chemical plant planning, construction, operation, project financing, global marketing, sales and logistics, procurement, and commercial contracts throughout his career. His role as Chief Projects Officer at US Methanol and Managing Director at New Heaven Chemicals are testament to his skills in executing and operating chemical plants.

Malay Mitra

General Manager Electrolyzer & Project Execution

A Professional with 27 years demonstrated history of successful working across energy fields of fossil fuel-based power generation, renewables and hydrogen energy. Held leadership positions in Strategy & Implementation, Projects Management, Design and Engineering, Business Development and Head of Strategic Business Unit (SBU) functions in large diversified organization.
Joined AVINA Clean Hydrogen in May 2023 and is leading the electrolyser technology and manufacturing initiatives, project development, basic engineering, FEED and detailed engineering, contracts and execution for green hydrogen and green ammonia projects. Also assisting AVINA in building and recruiting for the new India office.

Ram Ramprasad

Advisor, Former Chief Strategy Officer Linde; Praxair

Ram Ramprasad brings extensive market knowledge and key relationships to the table, leveraging his more than 25 years of experience in business development, customer relationships, and operational leadership in the industrial gas industry. Previously holding roles such as Senior Vice President, Capex & Strategy at Linde Plc and Global Head of Business Development for the on-site business, Ram has been instrumental in driving investments and sales growth. Currently, serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at Twelve and an Operating Partner with ARA Partners, de-carbonization focused firms. His academic achievements include Master’s and Doctorate degrees in chemical engineering from MIT.

K.P. Sujith

Deputy General Manager

Sujith is an accomplished electrical engineer with three decades of experience in the EPC industry conducting design engineering for major international refinery, petrochemical and oil and gas projects. Throughout his career he has taken on projects of increasing complexity, most recently spending twenty years working as a Lead Engineer in a diverse set of projects ranging from hydrogen and traditional power production to LNG projects.
He is a critical resource in large, complex EPC projects. He leverages his experience and engineering skills to improve the execution results and financial outcomes of the projects he leads. He firmly believes that transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewables is the key to a brighter and sustainable future.
Sujith joined the India office in early September and will invest his time in Avina’s strategic growth in engineering excellence.

Advisory Board

Tom Linebarger

Former Chairman and CEO of Cummins, Chair of Hydrogen Council

Tom Linebarger is Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Cummins, a global technology leader in engines, filtration and power generation products, and was the CEO for more than 10 years until he stepped down in August of 2022. As CEO, Tom refocused the company, positioning it to be a leader in zero and low-carbon solutions. Under Tom’s leadership, Cummins developed Destination Zero, the company’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, Cummins is offering customers a range of solutions required for the energy transition including advanced diesel, natural gas and fuel agnostic engine platforms. Cummins recently announced a hydrogen internal combustion technology that includes a 15L hydrogen engine, which will go into full production in 2027. The company has also announced several fuel cell partnerships with Daimler Truck North America, Komatsu and Scania as well as converting Air Products’ 2,000-truck delivery fleet to fuel cell electric vehicles. In addition, Cummins is manufacturing a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for use in North America and continues to build a leading presence in the electrolyzer business.
In addition to his work at Cummins, Tom is actively involved with several global and local organizations. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Harley Davidson. In 2021, Tom was appointed Chair of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and Co-Chair of the Global Hydrogen Council, a global CEO-led coalition working to accelerate the energy transition through hydrogen. The Hydrogen Council includes CEOs from over 300 companies in sectors including automotive, gas, utility and technology companies. Tom previously served as Chair of the U.S.-China Business Council from 2020 to 2022.

Susan Dio

Former Chairman and President of BP Americas

Susan Dio is a proven executive with 25+ years’ experience in international refining, petrochemicals, and oil and gas. Prior to her retirement in 2020, Susan was Chairman and President of BP America where she had responsibility for all BP businesses in the U.S. In addition, she worked with policymakers, partnerships and trade associations on trade, and energy policy, as well as navigating the energy transition toward a low-carbon future. As Chairman of the BP America Board, she focused on setting strategic direction and oversight of material risk across the 350 US subsidiaries. Between 2015 and 2018, Susan was CEO of BP Shipping, which managed the fleet of BP-operated and chartered vessels that moved over 200 million tons of products around the globe each year. As CEO, she reset the organization’s strategy and operations and modernized the company’s fleet, delivering 26 new, highly efficient tankers. Other roles Susan held at BP include Head of Audit for refining and marketing and Managing Director of a refinery in Australia. She holds a degree in chemical engineering.

Mario Longhi

Former CEO of US Steel

Mario Longhi is a highly accomplished executive with extensive experience in the steel, industrial, mining, automotive, transportation, aerospace, and energy markets. Most notably, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of US Steel Corporation, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s success. Throughout his tenure at United States Steel Corporation, Mr. Longhi held various senior positions, including President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his time at US Steel Corporation, he was the CEO at Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation and as Vice President and Group President, Global Extrusions at Alcoa, where he served in increasingly responsible roles over a 20 year period. Mr. Longhi accumulated extensive experience and expertise in strategic planning, business development, and operations management further highlighting his ability to provide valuable insights and guidance in diverse industries.
Mr. Longhi holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees in metallurgical engineering from Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia.
Mr. Longhi’s exceptional qualifications, including his senior management expertise, strategic acumen, and deep industry knowledge, make him a valuable asset. His remarkable journey and contributions to the corporate world stand as a testament to his exceptional leadership and business acumen.

Jan Holm

Former CEO of Maersk Drilling Asia

Jan Holm has held significant roles in banking, the shipping, oil and gas, and nuclear industries, mainly in business development, finance, and general management.
Holm was recently EVP of Seaborg Technologies, where he was responsible for its Southeast Asia business. Before that, he worked in the Maersk Group for 17 years in various positions, including CEO of Maersk Drilling in Singapore, where he was responsible for the company’s business in Asia. Prior to that, he worked in Danske Bank Group in finance and business development.
Holm is Chairman of the board of Risk Intelligence A/S, which is listed on Spotlight Market in Stockholm, Sweden, and an Independent Non-Executive Board member of Seatrium Ltd, where he also chairs the CSR committee. Seatrium Ltd is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Furthermore, Holm is a member of the Advisory Board of Haush Ltd and the co-founder and Chairman of the board of the Singapore-based think tank Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources.
Holm has a broad educational background in economics and business administration. He holds a Master of Science degree from Aarhus Business School and an Executive MBA from Copenhagen Business School. He has completed the Advanced Management Program and the Asian International Executive Program at INSEAD, where he also earned a certification as an international director in corporate governance. Recently, he completed a course in Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies at Cambridge University. Finally, he has been appointed as Senior Accredited Director by the Singapore Institute of Directors.

Ralph Izzo

Former Chairman and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)

Ralph Izzo was chairman and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) from April 2007 through December 2022 and the company’s president since October 2006. Prior to this, Mr. Izzo was president and COO of Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G). He held several executive positions within PSEG’s family of companies, including PSE&G SVP – utility operations; PSE&G VP – appliance service; PSEG VP – corporate planning; and PSE&G VP – electric ventures.
Izzo is a well-known leader in the energy industry as well as the public policy arena. He is frequently asked to testify before Congress, speak at conferences and address organizations on matters pertaining to national energy policy.
Izzo’s career began as a research scientist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, performing numerical simulations of fusion energy experiments. He has published or presented more than 35 papers on magnetohydrodynamic modeling. Izzo received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering and his Ph.D. in applied physics from Columbia University. He also received an MBA degree, with a concentration in finance, from the Rutgers Graduate School of Management. He is listed in numerous editions of Who’s Who, is a 2022 inductee into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, and has been the recipient of several national fellowships and awards, including the 2022 United States Energy Award from the US Energy Association and the 2022 S&P/Platts Global Energy Lifetime Achievement Award. Izzo has received honorary degrees from Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Thomas Edison State University, Bloomfield College, Rutgers University, and Raritan Valley Community College.
Izzo is the former chair of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the board of governors of Rutgers University, and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the US Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee. He is on the board of directors of the Bank of New York Mellon, CMS Energy, Ovintiv Inc., and TerraPower LLC. Previously, he served on the board of directors for the Edison Electric Institute, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. He currently serves on the boards of the Argonne National Lab, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and Liberty Science Center. Izzo is also on the advisory board for the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Department, a member of the board of trustees of the Peddie School, and on the advisory council of Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, as well as a member of the visiting committee for the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Columbia University School of Engineering board of visitors.

Robin Hayes

Chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas, Inc.

Robin Hayes is the Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. He is responsible for Airbus’ commercial aircraft and commercial services businesses throughout the Americas, as well as coordination with Airbus Helicopters, the company’s market-leading helicopter business, and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense.
Prior to joining Airbus, Robin served as Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue Airways Corporation for nine years. He joined the airline in 2008, serving as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until becoming President of the airline in January 2014. He was appointed as JetBlue’s third chief executive officer in February 2015.
Before JetBlue, Robin spent 19 years at British Airways, where he ascended to the position of Executive Vice President for the Americas. He held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in operational and commercial divisions, including frontline customer service, leading the airline’s leisure department and general manager for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
From 2020 to 2022, Robin was the Chairman of IATA’s Board of Governors, where he championed the air transport association’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He currently serves on the board of directors for KeyBank and Make-A-Wish Connecticut.
Robin is a University of Bath alumni, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
A U.S. citizen since 2012, Robin and his wife have residences in Virginia and Connecticut and have three grown children.