Advantech | Management Team

Corporate

Management Team

Management Team

David Gelerman
Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mr. David Gelerman founded Advantech in 1988, serving initially as President and, since March 2006, as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. Gelerman has held various positions at Nortel Networks, including Manager of the Transmission Networks Division, where he managed and supervised teams which developed several key Point-to-Point (P2P) radio systems. Mr. Gelerman holds a Master's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE), specializing in Wireless Communications and Broadcasting from the Moscow Institute of Telecommunications.

Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian
President & Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Shakhgildian joined the Company as Managing Director of the UK operations in 2001 and was appointed as President of the Advantech Satellite Equipment business unit in March 2006. Dr. Shakhgildian brings to Advantech extensive knowledge and experience in both terrestrial and satellite wireless communications technology. He has held key responsibilities in companies such as Adaptive Broadband Corporation, Motorola Network Solutions, and Signal Processors Limited. Dr. Shakhgildian holds several patents in wireless communication and received his PhD in Satellite Communications from Moscow Power Engineer Institute, and two Master's degrees : Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Moscow Telecommunications Institute and a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow State University. In 2006, he obtained an executive MBA degree from the London Business School.

Claude Bellefleur
General Manager, Advantech Manufacturing Services

Previously Vice-President of Operations at Advantech Satellite Equipment in Dorval, Quebec, Mr. Bellefleur has over 30 years of experience in management and in executive positions in the electronics industry, including the position of Vice-President of Operations at Marconi Canada. Mr. Bellefleur has extensive knowledge in all aspects of manufacturing, including Quality control, Production management, Manufacturing technology, MIS Systems, and Procurement.

Stella Gelerman
Corporate Chief Cultural Officer, Vice-President of Human Resources & Member of the Board of Directors

Mrs. Gelerman joined the Company in 1995 and is responsible for developing and directing the Human Resources strategies, the HR activities, including career development and the overall well being of the employees. Mrs. Gelerman has been instrumental in bringing together outstanding teams throughout the Company. Previous to her work at Advantech, Mrs. Gelerman has owned and successfully operated a retail business. Mrs. Gelerman holds a Master's degree in Economics, obtained at the Moscow Institute of Telecommunications.

Bruno Bugatto
Vice-President of Finance

Mr. Bugatto joined the Company in February 2008 and is responsible for its financial operations as well as its Management Information Systems (MIS). Prior to joining Advantech, Mr. Bugatto served as Controller for the Mission's group of MDA. He has over 30 years of experience in the high tech industry for companies like EMS Technologies Canada Ltd., Spar Aerospace Ltd., Bombardier Aerospace and Paramax. In his many years of experience he acquired significant knowledge in all aspects of Accounting and Finance including and was involved in restructuring and reorganizing of companies. In the last few years, Mr. Bugatto gained further knowledge and practical experience with Sarbanes Oxley compliancy requirements for NASDAQ listed companies.

Igor Perlitch
Chief Development Officer

Mr. Perlitch joined the Company in 1997 and is responsible for all new and existing hardware and software development platforms for Advantech. He has extensive knowledge and experience in research and development of wireless, satellite, video, PDH/SDH and IP based communication technology. In his prior experience he developed many transceiver and media access devices for multi-terminal systems and local area networks, radio channel networks, radio-modem as well as microcontroller devices. Mr. Perlitch holds a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) (1979) from the Kiev International University of Civil Aviation.

Mark Lambert
Managing Director-Europe & Middle East/ Africa (EMEA)

Mr. Lambert joined the company in 2002 and was appointed Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2005. Mr. Lambert is responsible for our European operations as well as for directing some of our worldwide marketing campaigns. Mr. Lambert holds a Masters Degree of Science in Electrical Engineering and MBA degrees.

Cristi Damian
Vice-President of Engineering, Satellite Equipment

Mr. Damian joined Advantech in 1995 where he held various leading positions in Operations and customer support. Prior to Advantech, he acquired experience as a hardware engineer in various high-tech companies. Mr. Damian holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University.

Jim Miller-Thomson
Vice-President, New Products, Satellite Equipment

Mr. Miller-Thomson joined the Company in 2001 and is responsible for all recent and new developments and full product verification and validation. Mr. Miller-Thomson brings Advantech a wealth of experience and knowledge after holding key positions with Nortel Networks, SPAR, British Aerospace and Marconi. Mr. Miller-Thomson holds a Masters degree in Engineering.

Walter Reichter
Vice-President, Product Line for Commercial Systems, Satellite Networks

Mr. Reichert brings over twenty-two years of experience in developing state-of-the-art technologies and products. Mr. Reichert held senior level roles in engineering, product and program management with SPAR Aerospace and EMS Technologies. He has participated in projects such as the Shuttle Robotic Arm, the Canadian RadarSat spacecraft, and highly engineered products in the defense, space, communications, and oil & gas industries. Mr. Reichert holds a Degree in Computer Engineering from Concordia University and an MBA from John Molson University.

Peter Garland
Vice-President, Government Systems, Satellite Networks

Mr. Garland has over thirty-five years of experience in Satellite Communication programs, both in space and ground segments. As leader of Advanced Systems at Spar, he led a pan Canadian Industrial team that was responsible for the highly successful Ka Band Advanced Satcom program that laid the foundations for Ka Band and an experimental on Board Processor (OBP) payload on the Anik F2 satellite. Earlier in his career, he was involved in Communications and Space projects with British Telecom as well as in research projects at Birmingham (UK) University.

Alain Laplante
Corporate & General Counsel, Advantech Advanced Microwave Technologies Inc.

Mr. Laplante joined the Company as Corporate and General Counsel in 2006. Prior to joining Advantech, Mr. Laplante held the positions of Director, Commercial Services with Rolls-Royce and General Counsel of Transat A.T. Mr. Laplante graduated from University of Montreal where he was granted a License in Law (L.L.L.). He holds a degree in Public Relations from the management department of Mc Gill University.



Corporate Who we are Management Team Human Resources Technologies Equipment Antennas RF Equipment Modems Terminals Hubs Microwave radios Network Management News and events Contact us		Management Team David Gelerman Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. David Gelerman founded Advantech in 1988, serving initially as President and, since March 2006, as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. Gelerman has held various positions at Nortel Networks, including Manager of the Transmission Networks Division, where he managed and supervised teams which developed several key Point-to-Point (P2P) radio systems. Mr. Gelerman holds a Master's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE), specializing in Wireless Communications and Broadcasting from the Moscow Institute of Telecommunications. Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian President & Chief Operating Officer Dr. Shakhgildian joined the Company as Managing Director of the UK operations in 2001 and was appointed as President of the Advantech Satellite Equipment business unit in March 2006. Dr. Shakhgildian brings to Advantech extensive knowledge and experience in both terrestrial and satellite wireless communications technology. He has held key responsibilities in companies such as Adaptive Broadband Corporation, Motorola Network Solutions, and Signal Processors Limited. Dr. Shakhgildian holds several patents in wireless communication and received his PhD in Satellite Communications from Moscow Power Engineer Institute, and two Master's degrees : Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Moscow Telecommunications Institute and a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow State University. In 2006, he obtained an executive MBA degree from the London Business School. Claude Bellefleur General Manager, Advantech Manufacturing Services Previously Vice-President of Operations at Advantech Satellite Equipment in Dorval, Quebec, Mr. Bellefleur has over 30 years of experience in management and in executive positions in the electronics industry, including the position of Vice-President of Operations at Marconi Canada. Mr. Bellefleur has extensive knowledge in all aspects of manufacturing, including Quality control, Production management, Manufacturing technology, MIS Systems, and Procurement. Stella Gelerman Corporate Chief Cultural Officer, Vice-President of Human Resources & Member of the Board of Directors Mrs. Gelerman joined the Company in 1995 and is responsible for developing and directing the Human Resources strategies, the HR activities, including career development and the overall well being of the employees. Mrs. Gelerman has been instrumental in bringing together outstanding teams throughout the Company. Previous to her work at Advantech, Mrs. Gelerman has owned and successfully operated a retail business. Mrs. Gelerman holds a Master's degree in Economics, obtained at the Moscow Institute of Telecommunications. Bruno Bugatto Vice-President of Finance Mr. Bugatto joined the Company in February 2008 and is responsible for its financial operations as well as its Management Information Systems (MIS). Prior to joining Advantech, Mr. Bugatto served as Controller for the Mission's group of MDA. He has over 30 years of experience in the high tech industry for companies like EMS Technologies Canada Ltd., Spar Aerospace Ltd., Bombardier Aerospace and Paramax. In his many years of experience he acquired significant knowledge in all aspects of Accounting and Finance including and was involved in restructuring and reorganizing of companies. In the last few years, Mr. Bugatto gained further knowledge and practical experience with Sarbanes Oxley compliancy requirements for NASDAQ listed companies. Igor Perlitch Chief Development Officer Mr. Perlitch joined the Company in 1997 and is responsible for all new and existing hardware and software development platforms for Advantech. He has extensive knowledge and experience in research and development of wireless, satellite, video, PDH/SDH and IP based communication technology. In his prior experience he developed many transceiver and media access devices for multi-terminal systems and local area networks, radio channel networks, radio-modem as well as microcontroller devices. Mr. Perlitch holds a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) (1979) from the Kiev International University of Civil Aviation. Mark Lambert Managing Director-Europe & Middle East/ Africa (EMEA) Mr. Lambert joined the company in 2002 and was appointed Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2005. Mr. Lambert is responsible for our European operations as well as for directing some of our worldwide marketing campaigns. Mr. Lambert holds a Masters Degree of Science in Electrical Engineering and MBA degrees. Cristi Damian Vice-President of Engineering, Satellite Equipment Mr. Damian joined Advantech in 1995 where he held various leading positions in Operations and customer support. Prior to Advantech, he acquired experience as a hardware engineer in various high-tech companies. Mr. Damian holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University. Jim Miller-Thomson Vice-President, New Products, Satellite Equipment Mr. Miller-Thomson joined the Company in 2001 and is responsible for all recent and new developments and full product verification and validation. Mr. Miller-Thomson brings Advantech a wealth of experience and knowledge after holding key positions with Nortel Networks, SPAR, British Aerospace and Marconi. Mr. Miller-Thomson holds a Masters degree in Engineering. Walter Reichter Vice-President, Product Line for Commercial Systems, Satellite Networks Mr. Reichert brings over twenty-two years of experience in developing state-of-the-art technologies and products. Mr. Reichert held senior level roles in engineering, product and program management with SPAR Aerospace and EMS Technologies. He has participated in projects such as the Shuttle Robotic Arm, the Canadian RadarSat spacecraft, and highly engineered products in the defense, space, communications, and oil & gas industries. Mr. Reichert holds a Degree in Computer Engineering from Concordia University and an MBA from John Molson University. Peter Garland Vice-President, Government Systems, Satellite Networks Mr. Garland has over thirty-five years of experience in Satellite Communication programs, both in space and ground segments. As leader of Advanced Systems at Spar, he led a pan Canadian Industrial team that was responsible for the highly successful Ka Band Advanced Satcom program that laid the foundations for Ka Band and an experimental on Board Processor (OBP) payload on the Anik F2 satellite. Earlier in his career, he was involved in Communications and Space projects with British Telecom as well as in research projects at Birmingham (UK) University. Alain Laplante Corporate & General Counsel, Advantech Advanced Microwave Technologies Inc. Mr. Laplante joined the Company as Corporate and General Counsel in 2006. Prior to joining Advantech, Mr. Laplante held the positions of Director, Commercial Services with Rolls-Royce and General Counsel of Transat A.T. Mr. Laplante graduated from University of Montreal where he was granted a License in Law (L.L.L.). He holds a degree in Public Relations from the management department of Mc Gill University.