Management Team

Gary Strahan

Director and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Strahan has served as our Chief Executive Officer since our founding in 1995, using his experience in the infrared technology space and non-destructive testing (“NDT”) and other technologies to grow MSAI’s business into the provider of high-resolution thermal sensing solutions it is today. Prior to starting MSAI, Mr. Strahan worked at Mobil Oil from 1989 to 1994 as an Inspection Engineer, Inspection Manager and, eventually, Senior NDT Level III, during which time he established Mobil Oil’s NDT procedures. From 1994 to 1995, Mr. Strahan was a Mechanical Integrity Manager at Ameripol Synpol Corporation. Mr. Strahan was a Manufacturer’s Representative for Agema from 1995 to 1998. He was also a District Manager at FLIR Systems through its merger (now a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies) in 1998 before leaving FLIR Systems Inc. in 2000 to work as a Manufacturer’s Representative of Mikron Infrared, Inc. until Mikron was purchased by LumaSense Technologies, Inc. in 2007. Mr. Strahan is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he was a Hull Technician and Diver. He is a Level III Certified Thermographer and attended Lamar University prior to joining the U.S. Navy. He attended UCSD after USN service. Mr. Strahan received certification as a mixed gas saturation diver from the College of Oceaneering and attended Don Boscoe Technical Institute where he was certified in multiple NDT methods including radiography, ultrasonics, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant inspection from. Mr. Strahan is an Authorized Inspector for the NBBI and has had API and AWS certifications. He currently serves on the ASTM E-20 Committee and SPIE Thermosense Committee. Mr. Strahan is well qualified to serve on the New MSAI Board due to having over 30 years of experience with infrared technology and NDT methods, including in his capacity as MSAI’s Chief Executive Officer.

Steve Winch

President

Mr. Winch has served as our president since May 2020. Since 2014, he has also been the Managing Partner of Villard Capital, LLC, a private equity firm focused on investments in technology and industrial sectors. Previously, Mr. Winch was a Managing Director at The Blackstone Group focused on private equity and special situations investing. At Blackstone, Mr. Winch sourced, evaluated, and executed direct investment opportunities in both private and public markets. Before Blackstone, Mr. Winch was a senior advisor to Cornwall Capital Management LP. Prior to that, Mr. Winch worked at Ripplewood Holdings LLC where he sourced, analyzed, and executed direct private equity investments in technology and industrial sectors. Previously, Mr. Winch was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company working across a range of industries in the U.S., Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. He began his career in the Mergers & Acquisitions group of Salomon Brothers Inc. He previously served on the board of directors of Keweenaw Land Association, Ltd. from April 2018 to December 2021. Mr. Winch received an A.B. from Duke University, where he graduated magna cum laude and was elected Phi Beta Kappa, as well as an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard Business School. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Winch is well qualified to serve on the New MSAI Board due to his familiarity with MSAI’s business and his extensive management experience.

Peter Baird

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Baird has served as our Chief Financial Officer, where he has established and managed a range of corporate functions from accounting, treasury and finance, among others. Prior to joining MSAI, Mr. Baird worked at 91 Asset Management (formerly Investec Asset Management) as Head of African Private Equity from January 2017 to March 2020, and at Standard Chartered Bank as a Senior Managing Director and Head of African Private Equity from September 2011 to December 2016. In both of these roles he managed a team of professionals investing in and managing growth companies. Prior to this, Mr. Baird was a Principal at McKinsey & Company, where he worked from September 1995 to June 2006. During his investing career he has served on and/or chaired more than 25 corporate boards. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Economics and Political Science from Bates College, a Master of Arts degree in Quantitative Economics from the University of Cape Town, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. At Stanford he was an Arjay Miller Scholar (top 10% of the class) and was also awarded certificates in Public Management and Global Management. Mr. Baird is also a Charted Financial Analyst.

Jeff Guida

Chief Information Officer

Mr. Guida has served as our Chief Innovation Officer since January 2021. Guida is an inventor and entrepreneur, former professional investor, and engineer. In 2013, he founded ShareRoller, makers of the world’s first detachable electric motor. Previously, Mr. Guida was a senior analyst at Perella Weinberg Partners, and before that, he worked at McKinsey & Company as a Business Analyst. Guida received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia.