MANAGEMENT TEAM

Dr. Aleta Richards
Dr. Aleta Richards

Dr. Aleta Richards

President

Aleta joined Crane Currency in October 2024, from Covestro, a leading supplier of high-quality polymer technologies.

As Executive Vice President, Aleta led the global specialty films business, headquartered in Germany, that provided high-security technology solutions for passports, medical and other applications. Previously, Aleta led Sales and Marketing for Covestro’s CAS North American business, focused on coatings and adhesive technologies. Aleta has also served as head of HR Services for Bayer U.S., supporting 14,000 employees. Aleta has a strong commercial background and extensive experience working with customers around the world. Her sales, marketing and supply chain expertise has been applied in both government, mobility, construction and medical sectors.

Aleta holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Additionally, she holds an M.B.A. in Marketing and International Business and a BSc. in Communication and Human Resources from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2024, Aleta was recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the Most Influential Executives in Corporate America and named a finalist for WeQual’s EMEA Commercial Award.

Eric Ziegler

Eric Ziegler

Vice President, Global Markets, Product Growth & U.S. Government

Eric joined Crane Currency in May 2012 leading the product strategy, R&D, product management and operations for the global security features business.

Eric came to Crane Currency from PerkinElmer Analytical Sciences and Laboratory Services where he led the global product management and R&D teams for a global $1.0 billion revenue division and in his career has launched over 50 new significant products. Previously at PerkinElmer he managed business P&Ls and oversaw their global manufacturing operations.

Eric completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and has a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from University of Rochester and a Masters in Engineering Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Yadira Sierra
Yadira Sierra

Yadira Sierra

Vice President, Global Design

Yadira leads Crane’s multi-national banknote, security feature and micro-optic design teams operating in the US, Malta, and Sweden.

She has thorough industry experience having managed important projects including the design of the current Colombian banknote series. Yadira worked seventeen years at the Central Bank of Colombia, where her last position was Deputy Director of the Printing Works responsible for its banknote printing operations.  Yadira has extensive knowledge of the Latin American currency market having worked four years as Crane’s Commercial Director for the Americas and the Caribbean, and two years with SICPA as the region’s Business Director. Yadira holds an MBA from IMD, Switzerland, a post-degree in Business Management from Los Andes University, Colombia; and a BSc Electronic Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia.

"Crane has simply the best banknote security technology that is available today. Our family of micro-optics are the world's most counterfeit resistent and easy-to-recognize public security features."

Sam Keayes

SVP, Security and Authentication Technologies, Crane NXT

Jon Ngin
Jon Ngin

Jon Ngin

Vice President, Operations

Jon Ngin joined Crane in September 2018 as Director of Operations and Site Lead for Crane’s US Government Operations, Dalton, Massachusetts.  

Jon currently serves as Vice President Operations, Supply Chain and Commercial Contracts for Crane Currency overseeing the operations of Crane’s five secure production facilities in the United States, Sweden and Malta.

Jon came to Crane Currency from Danaher Corporation a multi-national global science and technology innovator. Jon has held senior operational leadership roles driving Operational Excellence in EHS, Quality, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Project Engineering and New Product Introduction during his tenure with Danaher and other market-leading companies including Honeywell Aerospace, Express Scripts and Tyco Healthcare.

Jon is a certified Lean and Six Sigma Black Belt. He achieved his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York.

Mike Fitzgerald
Mike Fitzgerald

Mike Fitzgerald

Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance

Mike joined Crane Currency in 2020 as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance.

He came to Crane Currency from Crane Merchandising Systems, where he was the CFO and Vice President of Finance. Mike has also worked at Crane Payment Innovations (CPI) as its Global Controller. CPI is among the largest producers of cash acceptance equipment used across a wide array of sectors including gaming, vending, retail, banking and transportation. Mike joined Crane Co. in 2015, after spending 10 years of his career with Eaton Corporation in increasing levels of leadership responsibility. In this role, he managed a team of 40 associates and provided strategic support to the GM of the region, where he helped drive integration projects, SAP implementation, and strong financial performance.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from John Carroll University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mike Prout
Mike Prout

Mike Prout

Vice President, Global Security

Mike joined Crane Currency in December 2019 as Vice President, Global Security.

Mike joined Crane Currency after leading physical security and investigations as Director of Security for Charter Communications, a Fortune 100 broadband communications company with 400 facilities and 12,000 personnel in his area of responsibility. Prior to joining Charter, Mike spent 25 years with the U.S. Marshals Service, a federal law enforcement agency. Mike served as an Assistant Director of INTERPOL-USNCB coordinating investigations, and held a wide variety of roles with the U.S. Marshals including 9 years as a member of the Senior Executive Service. He was responsible for overseeing security, intelligence and executive protection for the U.S. Court System and also led Internal Investigations and Internal Audit. Over his final 3 years with the agency, Mike provided leadership of the U.S. Witness Security Program.

Mike received his Master of Science degree in Management from Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marist College.

“Our strategy is always to reduce the risk for the central banks and at the same time deliver products of the highest quality and aesthetics.”

Yadira Sierra

Vice President, Global Design, Crane Currency

Wael Mrad
Wael Mrad

Wael Mrad

Vice President, Sales

Wael joined Crane Currency in 2010 as the Regional Sales Director for the Middle East and North Africa region.

In May 2016, Wael became the Commercial Director for South East Asia and MENA region. In 2018, he was promoted to Vice President of Sales.

Prior to joining Crane Currency, he held a position as Regional Sales & Marketing Director for the Middle East Region for the defense company Saab Bofors Dynamics. Prior to that he worked at different management positions as department manager and team leader for the technical consultancy company Semcon.

Wael holds a M.Sc. in Solid Mechanics Engineering.

Stephanie Gier
Stephanie Gier

Stephanie Gier

Vice President, Human Resources

Stephanie joined Crane Currency in September 2021 after leading her own HR consulting business, Inspire HR Partners, LLC.

Prior to, Stephanie held senior human resource positions including Chief Human Resource Officer at Protective Industrial Products; Global HR Business Partner at Momentive Performance Materials; and Director of North American Human Resources at SI Group. In addition, Stephanie has held various HR leadership roles during her eight-year tenure at Avery Dennison. Stephanie brings a passion for Human Resources to drive business value, recruitment and retention, team building and coaching, and for the development, engagement and recognition of associates.

Stephanie holds a master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in New York.

Yann Ischi

Yann Ischi

Vice President, Product Authentication

Yann joined Crane Currency in September, 2023. As VP Product Authentication, Yann contributes to the fight against product fraud and counterfeiting. He collaborates closely with companies to bring authenticity and trust to their customers.

Crane PA solutions help brands to deliver on their product integrity promises and to stay true to their values. Customers come from a diversity of sectors such as the consumer electronic, automobile, healthcare, and luxury industries to improve and digitalize the security of their supply chain and enhance the protection of their products and brand.

He brings 20 years of international experience in the high-technology sectors, having spent part of his career in the UK and the Silicon Valley (CA) in the Digital Printing industry before returning to Switzerland to join the high security industry sector in 2006. Recent positions held by Yann recently include Director Strategic Business Initiatives, Director Business Development for the Product and Brand Protection division at SICPA and Chief Commercial Officer at U-NICA.

Yann Ischi holds a Bachelor of Science in Microtechnology Engineering and an Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.