Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has named Alexander Koukoulas as its president and CEO. Koukoulas, a well-known scientist and entrepreneur, previously served as managing director of ANL Consultants, LLC, a private consulting firm supporting the pulp and paper, biomaterials and bioenergy industries.

“We are excited to have Dr. Koukoulas join Herty as its president and CEO,” said Georgia Southern University president Brooks Keel. “Not only is he an outstanding business leader, but he is an accomplished scientist and entrepreneur. His diverse experience will be a perfect fit as we work to expand Herty’s capabilities as a global leader in traditional and advanced materials innovation.”

Herty’s clients, which include global corporations as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies, are currently focused in the transportation, forest and paper related products, building materials, energy and the environment and bio-products industries. In April 2012, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal transferred management of the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center to Georgia Southern University with a goal of enhancing economic and business development in the state of Georgia.

Prior to his role at ANL Consultants, LLC, Koukoulas served as vice president and executive director of research and development at Albany International, a leading manufacturer of engineered textiles. Earlier in his career, he served in increasingly responsible leadership positions at International Paper, including chief scientist, where he directed research and was responsible for new product development and R&D supporting the company’s pulp, paper and packaging business units.

One of Koukoulas’ primary goals will be to enable Herty’s clients to achieve their R&D and financial goals while working to create an environment that cultivates opportunity for businesses to relocate or stay within Georgia.

Koukoulas received his bachelor of science and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from McGill University. He is currently pursuing an executive certificate from the Sloan School of Management at M.I.T. He has published numerous presentations and publications and holds numerous U.S. patents. He is a scientific advisor and bioenergy expert at the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture. He serves as a technical advisor and board member for numerous organizations including the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), the National Science and Engineering Council of Canada, and the European Union’s Energy Commission. Koukoulas is an active member of numerous professional societies including the American Chemical Society, the MIT Enterprise Forum, the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada, Sigma Xi and TAPPI.