Our Vision & Mission

Hertha Metals envisions a global steel industry that is fully sustainable, carbon-neutral, and supportive of a thriving planet and economy.

We will be the catalyst to decarbonize global steel production through our innovative
and cost-effective technologies.​

Leadership

Founder and CEO

Dr. Laureen Meroueh is the Founder and CEO of Hertha Metals, Inc., a venture-backed startup at the forefront of revolutionizing the steel industry. Hertha Metals is dedicated to tackling one of the most challenging sources of industrial greenhouse gas emissions – steel production – by introducing transformative technologies. As the inventor of Hydrogen Electric Reduction Smelting (HERSTM) and Methane Electric Reduction Smelting (MERSTM), Dr. Meroueh has pioneered innovative methods to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of steelmaking, aiming to replace traditional, carbon-intensive processes with sustainable, energy-efficient alternatives.

Dr. Meroueh holds a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a graduate minor in business and entrepreneurship. Prior to founding Hertha Metals, she was recruited as CEO of a green hydrogen start-up company. Dr. Meroueh led the company through cell scaling breakthrough technology with the first ever 1,000cm2 anion exchange membrane and secured funding for a paid pilot program. With recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, an MIT Energy Initiative Fellow, and a Breakthrough Energy Innovator Fellow, Dr. Meroueh is recognized as a leader in climate technology.

Mark Cousin

VP Engineering

Mark began his career at British Aerospace, working on future aircraft projects, including
regional jets, business jets, and the Future Large Airlifter (now the Airbus A400M). This early
experience established his expertise in advanced aviation design and innovation. In 1998, Mark
joined Airbus, where he held several leadership roles, including Head of the A380 team,
providing engineering support for the Final Assembly Line and Flight Test department. In 2008,
Mark was appointed Head of Systems Integration Test at Airbus’s Flight and Integration Test
Centre. In 2015 Mark was appointed Technical Director for the design and build of the Beluga
XL air transporter aircraft, which entered service in 2020. In January 2017, Mark was appointed
Senior Vice President of Flight Demonstrators in the CTO organization, where he was
instrumental in launching several flight demonstrators. In late 2018, Mark was appointed CEO
of A 3 , the Airbus Silicon Valley Innovation Centre. In 2021, Mark joined Universal Hydrogen as
CTO, responsible for the technical development of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered regional
aircraft, which flew as a demonstrator in March 2023.

Mark holds a BSc in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Southampton.

Daniel Bullard

VP of Research and Development

Dr. Dan Bullard is the Vice President of Research and Development at Hertha Metals, Inc., where he leads efforts to advance innovative technologies that transform the steel industry. With over 20 years of experience in the metals industry, Dr. Bullard is a passionate technologist dedicated to turning novel ideas into commercialized solutions. His expertise spans metallurgy, alloy development, gas-metal reactions, and surface modification of metals, positioning him as a leader in developing cutting-edge approaches to sustainable steel production.

Before joining Hertha Metals, Dr. Bullard was the founder and CEO of Arcanum Alloys, where he developed and patented Spatially Optimized Diffusion Alloy (SODA) technology. This innovation, now commercialized within the integrated sheet steel industry, decouples and optimizes the surface and bulk properties of steel independently. 

Dr. Bullard earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science with a minor in planetary science from the University of Arizona, where he pioneered a process for mining oxygen from lunar soil using non-equilibrium plasmas. He also holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business, blending technical expertise with strategic leadership to drive impactful change in the steel industry.

Mike Bailey

Chief of Staff

Mike Bailey is the Chief of Staff at Hertha Metals, Inc., bringing decades of leadership and innovation experience across scientific and engineering-driven industries. An accomplished executive, he has held pivotal roles that span aerospace, medical technologies, and advanced manufacturing. At Hertha Metals, as the Chief of Staff, he leverages his extensive expertise to drive strategic initiatives and support the company’s mission of revolutionizing the steel industry through groundbreaking technologies like HERSTM and MERSTM.

Prior to joining Hertha Metals, Bailey served as CEO of Trajan Scientific and Medical, where he led a 400-person global corporation specializing in scientific instruments and medical devices. As Director of New Shepard at Blue Origin, he oversaw the entire build, integration, safety, and reliability of the reusable, human-rated New Shepard rocket and crew capsules and successfully managed several NASA and internally funded product development programs. Earlier in his career, he served as Vice President of R&D and Sales at Upchurch Scientific, a Danaher company, driving innovation and commercialization growth.

With seven patents and experience in board and advisory roles, Bailey is known for his ability to build high-performing teams and deliver transformative results. A Mechanical Engineering graduate, he combines technical acumen with strategic vision, making him a key leader in advancing Hertha Metals’ groundbreaking work in decarbonizing the steel industry.

Partnership

Hertha Metals collaborates with visionary organizations committed to sustainability and innovation. With support from industry leaders like Khosla Ventures, Breakthrough Energy, and Pear we are transforming steel production into a carbon-neutral process. Our partners share our mission to revolutionize heavy industry and build a self-sustaining future for generations to come.

Contact Us to find out more.

By revolutionizing steel production with innovative, low-carbon technologies, we are addressing one of the largest contributors to global emissions and driving progress toward a sustainable future.

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