Benoit Lemaignan is the co-founder and CEO of Verkor. Convinced that Europe's industrial future and decarbonisation trajectory depended on producing its own clean batteries, Benoit assembled a team of six entrepreneurs during the Covid pandemic and launched Verkor in 2020. The company went on to raise €2 billion — one of the largest fundraises in European tech history — and is now operating a gigafactory in Dunkirk set to create 1,200 direct jobs. An aerospace engineer by training and a serial entrepreneur by nature, Benoit previously founded Waga Energy and Aniah, Aima, Atoba,, and honed his passion for climate at Carbone 4 and also worked forAirbus. When Benoit is not building Europe's battery industry and supporting ventures, he is somewhere in the mountains skiing or climbing.