Leadership Team
Meet Our Executive Team
Marisa Kopec
Marisa Kopec is the Chief Executive Officer at Lux. She leads a talented, experienced team focused on a purpose-driven mission of studying novel sciences, emerging technologies, and consumer behavior to enable “sustainable innovation” for Lux clients. Her passion is growth through innovation and helping corporate leaders reach their sustainability and net zero targets.
Marisa joined Lux in January 2021 as Lux’s Chief Research Officer. She was responsible for Lux Research’s syndicated research and consulting services as well as new product development and management. Over the last two years, Marisa has orchestrated a brilliant transformation of Lux’s product strategy, from pricing and packaging to reinvention of the digital and service delivery that has been instrumental in the company’s ability to scale and grow.
Marisa is a seasoned market research leader with 30+ years of experience. She served as the Senior Vice President of Research Product Management at Forrester. She was commercially responsible for the SiriusDecisions product line and successfully led a new go-to-market strategy for Forrester following its acquisition of SiriusDecisions in 2019.
Before Forrester, she was Head of Product and Innovation at SiriusDecisions and an executive team member that grew the start-up research and advisory firm into a $100M business. She was responsible for designing and implementing the organization’s product management processes and governance. Also, Marisa transformed SiriusDecisions’ product strategy and go-to-market architecture while leading the digital transformation of the company’s intellectual property origination and delivery.
Before SiriusDecisions, Marisa spent 12 years with Gartner, most recently as a managing vice president and product leader for Gartner’s High-Tech and Telecom business unit. She also ran global marketing at Gartner and was the Chief Privacy Officer. In addition to her managerial experience at market research organizations, Marisa is known for her innovative and industry-recognized methodologies (e.g., The SiriusDecisions PMM model, Messaging Nautilus, and Buyer Persona Framework) that have been widely operationalized across B2B organizations today.
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson is the Chief Financial Officer at Lux Research and is responsible for the company’s financial function including planning and analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, and business finance operations.
Scott has over 15 years of financial and operational experience with both public and private global technology companies. Prior to Lux, he was the Vice President of Finance at LogicManager, a software-as-a-service company focused on enterprise risk management. Scott helped lead the Company through exponential growth and oversaw its first international expansions. Prior to that Scott was the Corporate Controller at QuickBase, a low code development platform that sold to Vista Equity Partners for > $1 billion valuation. Prior to QuickBase, he held roles at Amazon, Backstage LLC, and Nuance Communications.
Scott received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Ithaca College and his Master’s Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University. He also holds his CPA license in Massachusetts.
Arij van Berkel, Ph.D.
Arij is the Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Lux Research in charge of all research and Lux Expertise teams. Arij joined Lux Research in 2015, leading the energy research and Lux Expertise teams until 2023, when he became CPO. As CPO, it is his mission to make sure Lux supports all its clients with the most relevant, highest quality and most up-to-date information, insights, analyses, and opinions to inform and improve the innovation decisions its clients make every day.
Prior to joining Lux Research, Arij worked for Shell and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the public research and technology organization of the Netherlands. At Shell, he conducted research in process safety and combustion. At TNO, he worked on a variety of topics including food preservation, emissions reduction, and biomass conversion. Later, as TNO’s innovation director for the chemicals industry, he was responsible for TNO’s entire project portfolio for the chemicals industry and liaising with the Dutch and EU governments on innovation policy.
Arij earned his M.Sc. in mechanical engineering from Twente University and a Ph.D. from Eindhoven University.
Steve Dodman
As Chief Sales Officer, Steve Dodman leads Lux Research’s global sales organization by providing leadership, direction, and an executive vision to ensure alignment with the company’s financial and strategic goals. With 20+ years’ experience driving revenue, profitability, and performance in the professional services industry, Steve brings strong business acumen and creative energy to Lux. Working collaboratively across sales, marketing, research, and consulting, Steve is responsible for leading the sales team in their pursuit to deliver solutions to clients as they seek to drive sustainable innovation and growth.
Prior to joining Lux Research, Steve held senior-level sales and marketing positions with Insider Intelligence, Richardson Sales Performance, Sirius Decisions, IDG, and GBMP. His experience includes defining and executing go-to-market strategies and building award-winning sales teams. Steve holds a B.Sc. in Business Management from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Babson College. He was selected as an Emerging Leader in the City of Boston and is currently a fellow at the Center for Collaborative Leadership. Steve resides just outside of Boston, Massachusetts with his family.
Meet Some of Our Lux Experts
Samhitha Udupa
Samhitha is the VP of Product Operations at Lux. Her contributions in advisory projects have facilitated commercialization of technologies in advanced building materials, nanomaterials manufacturing processes, building-integrated photovoltaics, novel drug-delivery technologies, and nano-catalysts, to name a few. Prior to her consulting work at Lux Research, Samhitha was a major contributor to the Biosciences Intelligence team, where she has conducted extensive primary and secondary research in biofuels, biomaterials, targeted delivery, synthetic biology, and other areas of emerging biosciences.
Samhitha joined the Lux Research team from University of Pennsylvania where she co-designed a diagnostic instrument that measures torque and range-of-motion of rotator cuff muscles in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain (patent pending).
Samhitha holds a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Naveen Krishnamurthy
As Senior Vice President of Lux Executive Programs, Naveen Krishnamurthy leads high-impact relationships with companies navigating multidecade transitions. In his role, Naveen brings about important connections among C-level leaders at peer-group companies, engages Lux’s repository of research across multiple areas of emerging innovation, and advises clients on strategic growth imperatives in diverse industries. Naveen brings two decades of research, industry, and consulting experience in commercially viable innovation to address entrenched problems. Most recently, Naveen’s work has spanned ideation, market penetration, and transaction due diligence for clients on three continents.
Prior to joining Lux Research, Naveen served as business development manager at Harvest Power, a waste-to-energy developer funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where he evaluated technologies, developed economic and strategic analyses, and assisted in executing several acquisitions. In his consulting roles before Lux, Naveen helped venture capital and buyout firms analyze industries, assess growth opportunities, and identify attractive targets in carbon markets, emission control, healthcare IT, packaging, testing & measurement, and food & beverage for Firelake Capital, Graham Partners, and Lux Capital. Previously, as an environmental engineer at AECOM, Naveen conducted design, planning, and construction management for water/wastewater treatment, solid & hazardous waste management, and air pollution control for utilities, federal agencies, and countries.
Naveen graduated with an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a recipient of the Joseph Wharton Fellowship. He received an M.S. in environmental engineering at Pennsylvania State University, where he conducted U.S. Department of Energy-funded laboratory research to develop an innovative treatment process for high-level nuclear waste. He has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals and has spoken and moderated at conferences related to waste treatment, land and water management, water reuse, and corporate sustainability. Naveen is a certified ISO 14001 auditor.
Yuan-Sheng Yu
Yuan-Sheng Yu is a senior director at Lux Research, based in Switzerland. He leads product strategy and operations for Lux’s Chemicals and Industrials Research and Advisory Services. As a seasoned leader, he sets the strategic vision to deliver technical expertise and insights that help organizations navigate the innovation landscape to capitalize on growth opportunities and achieve industry leadership.
With over a decade of experience as a trusted adviser to multinational corporations, Yuan-Sheng plays a direct role in shaping innovation strategies, crafting technology roadmaps, developing market entry plans, and identifying high-potential partnerships and investment opportunities. His expertise spans a diverse range of sectors at the forefront of innovation, including oil and gas, utilities, industrials, and chemicals. Prior to his current role, Yuan-Sheng led the Energy Lux Expertise team and Asia research team, further enhancing his ability to deliver unique and pragmatic cross-industry and international perspectives that enrich his research and advisory work.
Yuan-Sheng holds an M.Sc. from the University of Georgia and B.Sc. from the University of California–Berkeley.
Ian Rinehart
Ian Rinehart is an associate research director at Lux and contributes to the Manufacturing group’s coverage of built-environment materials, the circular economy, and industrial policy. In this role, he guides the research priorities for the Manufacturing Process and Technology team and supports clients putting innovation into practice in their companies.
Prior to joining Lux, Ian worked in the Palo Alto, California, office of Mitsubishi Corporation, where he conducted research on a wide range of technology topics, such as self-driving cars, cellular agriculture, and in-store retail experiences. Previously, he worked for the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan, legislative-branch agency, as a foreign policy expert focused on East Asia.
Ian holds an M.A. in security policy studies from George Washington University (Elliott School of International Affairs) and a B.A. in international relations from Pomona College.
Cheryl Auger
In her role as senior director of Predictive Anthropology at Lux Research, Cheryl oversees client engagement, research delivery, and feedback management and collaborates with account management to ensure the provision of top-tier client service and high-quality research. Cheryl is recognized as a thought leader and has showcased her expertise at Lux Forums held in Amsterdam, New York City, and Tokyo. She has also presented at industry conferences like Qual360 and IIEX.
Prior to her tenure at Lux, Cheryl served as an independent researcher, teaching assistant, and research assistant at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. Holding an M.A. in political studies from Queen’s University, she has contributed to publications with the University of Toronto Press and Minnesota University Press. Cheryl’s dedication to outstanding research was acknowledged with the receipt of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
Amy Huras
Amy Huras is a research director at Lux and leads the Predictive Anthropology team’s U.S. coverage of consumer insights. In this role, she coordinates and oversees qualitative research projects, develops and implements research procedures, and provides ongoing training in technology-enabled ethnographic research methods. She is responsible for the quality of the research produced by the team and liaises with the Client Delivery and Advisory team to ensure deliverables meet client expectations.
Prior to joining Lux, Amy was an assistant professor and faculty fellow at New York University’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Toronto.
Michael Holman
SVP, Research Program Director
Michael Holman, Ph.D.
Michael Holman is SVP and research program director at Lux Research, leading a team of analysts and consultants who help clients, primarily large global corporations, with new opportunities in emerging technology areas from 3D printing to advanced materials to the circular economy.
He has been with Lux since 2005, shortly after the company was founded, and held a variety of positions in research, consulting, and client service. Michael earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University, where he worked at Columbia’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. He also holds a B.A. in chemistry and philosophy from Rice University.
Anthony Schiavo
Anthony Schiavo is a principal analyst at Lux Research. Anthony is a thought leader in sustainable innovation. He explores emerging issues and helps shape Lux’s research agenda across climate technology, the circular economy, consumer technology, policy, and innovation practices. Anthony provides strategic advice and guidance for executives in the chemicals, manufacturing, and consumer goods industries and frequently gives his views on innovation at industry events, at Lux Research webinars and forums, and in the media.
Anthony received a B.Sc. in materials science and engineering from Virginia Tech. During his tenure at Virginia Tech, Anthony focused his research activities on biomaterial composites and nanotechnology ethics.
Joshua Haslun, Ph.D.
Joshua Haslun is the senior director of the CPG service at Lux Research. In this role, he sets the direction and strategy for research spanning innovations from agricultural production to end-consumer products and services. He has enabled client decision-making, partnership development, and new business development by illuminating an understanding of emerging and innovative technologies and business models through which to implement them.
Josh obtained a dual-degree Ph.D. in zoology and ecology, evolutionary biology, and behavior from Michigan State University. He also holds a B.Sc. in biology from Siena College and an M.Sc. in biology specializing in marine science from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi.
Harini Venkataraman, Ph.D.
Harini is an associate research director on the Agrifood and Health team at Lux Research and is based in Amsterdam. In this role, she monitors emerging technologies and evaluates innovation opportunities related to food and nutrition, such as novel ingredients, sugar reduction, alternative proteins, food safety, personalized nutrition, and the microbiome.
Before joining Lux, Harini worked as a senior associate scientist at DSM Food Specialties, the Netherlands. She also has experience working on projects related to regulatory affairs and toxicology. Harini holds a Ph.D. in biotechnology from Vrije University, Amsterdam. She has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as established successful academic and industrial collaborations.
Christopher Robinson
Christopher Robinson is the senior director of the Energy team at Lux Research where he focuses on identifying and understanding the technologies and business models powering the energy transition. In this role, he works with a diverse set of clients to provide strategic advice on the business models and technologies powering the energy transition. His research focuses primarily on mobility’s role in the energy transition including electric powertrains, supporting infrastructure, and the intersection of the energy transition with autonomous and connected vehicles.
Prior to joining Lux, Chris worked at Purdue University’s Nanoscale Energy Transport and Conversion Laboratory where his research focused on engineering higher-efficiency thermoelectric materials.
He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
Chloe Herrera
Chloe Herrera is an analyst at Lux and leads the Energy team’s coverage of battery technology for electric vehicles and stationary storage. In this role, she analyzes opportunities for novel battery chemistries and follows energy storage market trends. Specifically, Chloe covers innovations in Li-ion technology, the battery supply chain, and long-duration battery storage. She has also contributed to research in battery recycling and raw material extraction.
Prior to joining Lux, Chloe conducted research on superconducting materials, authoring four academic papers on the subject. She holds an M.Sc. in condensed matter physics from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. from Smith College.
Kristin Marshall
Kristin is an associate research director at Lux Research on the Materials and Manufacturing team. In this role, she evaluates a wide range of materials innovations for a more connected, mobile, and sustainable future. The team’s focus is on materials technologies themselves, specifically those improving people’s ability to communicate and travel, build smarter, lasting infrastructure, cities, and homes, and make products that have less of an impact on human health and the health of the planet.
Over the past several years, Kristin has covered topics ranging from biobased polymers and biobased intermediate chemicals to consumer packaging. Kristin also contributes to Lux’s broader coverage of sustainability.
Kristin holds an M.Sc. in chemical engineering from Oregon State University, where she worked as a graduate teaching assistant as well as a graduate research assistant investigating complex fluids and soft solids. She also holds a B.A. in economics from New York University (NYU) with a minor in environmental studies. She holds a certification in corporate sustainability from NYU Stern School of Business.
Runeel Daliah
Runeel Daliah is a principal analyst at Lux Research and part of Lux’s Energy team. He currently leads the group’s coverage of the decarbonization of the energy system, focusing on carbon capture and utilization and the hydrogen economy. In this role, he advises global energy and materials and chemicals companies as well as government organizations on the technical and regulatory drivers enabling the adoption of low-carbon technologies, drawing from extensive primary research with policymakers, academics, technology developers, and corporate stakeholders.
Runeel holds an M.Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Manchester in the U.K.
Hear From Our Clients
When we evaluate our innovation team, those who use Lux insights on a regular basis demonstrate higher performance and better results than those who did not.
Access to the Lux platform and its analyst has made me much smarter and has helped increase my influence and value to the company.
Trendy topics; data-driven, tailored focus on request; convincing experts; and absolutely adequate client engagement – TOP!
I presented your idea about sustainability and innovation at the Summit and of all the slides in my deck, everybody noticed the slide you sent me. They all sat up and started taking pictures.
This is wonderful. If Lux wants to invite me to join your Board, I would be delighted to.
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