High Temperature Materials Systems – the UK company pioneering a new type of advanced composite materials – has appointed award winning innovation specialist Annalisa Gigante as Chair.
Annalisa has a wealth of experience in translating research into real-world impact. She has held senior roles in global organisations across life sciences, chemicals and digital technologies, and has successfully launched and scaled multi-billion-dollar businesses. An Italian national who is based in Switzerland, she is also Vice Chair of the Henry Royce Institute for advanced materials research, and a Non-Executive Director of Cambridge Enterprise.
HTMS, which has operations in Bristol and Leamington Spa, specialises in Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), a type of lightweight heat-resistant material used on the underside of the Space Shuttle. The company has found a way to reduce the cost of CMCs and make them available for wider uses such as battery enclosures in the clean transport sector.
Annalisa’s appointment follows HTMS’s recent £1.3m funding round, which was led by the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and South West Investment Fund through their respective fund managers Mercia Ventures and Maven Capital Partners.
Dr Danilo Di Salvo, co-founder and CEO, said: “Annalisa has an incredible track record of developing deep tech businesses across Europe and beyond, and her experience in the boardroom fits our requirements perfectly. We look forward to working with her to grow HTMS on a global scale.”
Annalisa Gigante added: “I am delighted to have joined HTMS as Chair. I believe in its team, vision, and technology. With a relentless focus on innovation, HTMS is redefining what’s possible with ceramic composite systems and is poised to become a global leader in advanced materials.”