People in the News

• Manoj Kochar, Director of Holoflex, has been elected as the new president of the India-based Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA).

• Yann Ischi has joined Crane Authentication as Vice President of Product Authentication. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Yann will lead Crane Authentication’s growth strategy and future acquisitions, including an expanded portfolio of digital/authentication services.

Yann most recently came from U-NICA and brings expertise in brand protection and product authentication, and an extensive background in product strategy, marketing, and business development. Earlier in his career, Yann was Director of Business Development for Product and Brand Protection at SICPA.

• Meta Materials Inc has appointed Jim Fusaro as Chief Executive Officer, replacing George Palikaras who is no longer with the Company. Fusaro has 35 years of experience in solar, semiconductor, advanced materials, and aerospace. He has led several large-scale global businesses, including serving as CEO of Array Technologies.

In another development, Meta has elected tech industry veteran Philippe Morali to its board of directors, as well as appointed two experts from De La Rue. First, Mark Spencer has joined Meta as Senior Vice-President to launch its Global Product Design Services in Authentication.

Secondly, Alan Newman, an expert in banknote innovation, will lead the company’s nano-optic technologies.

• Kerre Corbin, counterfeit expert and director of Kerrency Ltd, has joined the board of advisors of Valaurum, Inc, creator and manufacturer of the Aurum® — the smallest verifiable unit of gold for investment available on the market today.

‘Kerre’s world-class currency anti- counterfeiting experience supports Valaurum’s continued effort to ensure that the Aurum is the most secure form of gold available in the world,’ said Dr Adam Trexler, Valaurum’s president and founder.

Kerre Corbin previously worked as a counterfeit expert with De La Rue. She was responsible for forensic examinations requested by De La Rue customers as well as thwarting counterfeits from Northern Ireland and Scotland, and she applied her experience to the analysis of new security features and designs. She also previously served as counterfeit specialist with the United States Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division in Washington, DC.

Kerrency Ltd is an independent consultancy in the banknote and security features industry. Kerre provides guidance and training to central banks, police agencies, commercial banks, and security industry companies on counterfeiting issues.

Kerre said, ‘I hope that I can contribute to the further development of the Aurum to enable anyone to invest in gold with confidence. As an expert in counterfeit banknotes, I am ready to improve the counterfeit resiliency of Aurum bills and deter alterations. I believe Valaurum has the answer to the rapidly depreciating value of currency with its unique and innovative approach by creating bills made from real 24-karat gold.’

The bills, which are literally banknotes made of gold, can be in the form of secure legal tender currency, collectibles, commemorative notes, or branded marketing materials. Each Aurum is printed with artwork designed to incorporate the gleam of the 24-karat gold microlayer, which is protected by additional layers of durable polymer and a range of security features.

Valaurum’s Aurum gold bills (© Valaurum).