Afternoon Roundtable
Topic: Hydrogen Combustion Engines
Jim Nebergall
General Manager, Hydrogen Engines
Cummins
Jim Nebergall is passionate about innovation and has dedicated his Cummins career to advancing technology that improves the environment. As General Manager of the Hydrogen Engine Business at Cummins Inc., Jim leads the company’s global efforts in commercializing hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines.
Jim joined Cummins in 2002 and has held numerous leadership roles across the company, pushing the boundaries of customer-focused innovation to position Cummins as the leading powertrain supplier of choice. Jim has managed a portfolio ranging from advanced diesel and natural gas to hybrid powertrains and believes hydrogen internal combustion engines are an important technology in the company’s accelerated path to decarbonization.
Chris Giorgianni
Vice President, Product
JCB
Over his 20-year career with JCB, Chris Giorgianni has served in several roles leading up to his current position as Vice President of Product, where he has global responsibility for JCB’s Skid Steer Loader range, leads the North American Product Team and is responsible for JCB’s Government & Defense business globally.
Giorgianni began his career with JCB as a Product Specialist for Backhoe Loaders in 2003. Shortly after, he became JCB’s first American employee to be based at the company’s global headquarters, serving as Worldwide Product Manager for Backhoe Loaders and as Regional Manager for Northern Europe.
Since his return to the US in 2007, Giorgianni has served in numerous leadership roles to include leading the Southeast Sales Region, Product Marketing, Parts & Service, Government & Defense and more recently Product and Marketing. In March of 2023, he assumed his current role.
In addition to his roles at JCB, Giorgianni is also actively involved in the community, currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at The Lady Bamford Center. Since 2007, The Lady Bamford Center encourages learning, personal development and social skills in children aged from 6 weeks to four years old, and often from disadvantaged circumstances.
Giorgianni also serves as vice chairman of the Coastal Georgia Military Affairs Coalition, the Georgia Southern College of Science and Mathematics Dean’s Advisory Council and is on the board of directors of the Savannah Council on World Affairs.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Giorgianni received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the U.S. Air Force Academy. A decorated veteran, he served his country meritoriously, prior to leaving the military to join the heavy equipment industry in 1998.
Paul Mercurio
US Sales Manager
Liebherr Fuel Injection Systems
Paul Mercurio has over 30 years’ experience in automotive product development and marketing in various product categories. Paul started his career in passenger car and light truck chassis controls systems development and later moved to marketing and product management roles in the commercial, heavy-duty and off highway powertrain sector.
Paul is currently leading the Liebherr US sales efforts with focus on fuel injection systems for the on- and off-highway, heavy-duty engine market. Liebherr faces the challenge of developing sustainable fuel injection solutions with the main areas of interest in the implementation of robust fuel injection equipment for traditional and alternative fuels to meet the strict demands of both the U.S. and international markets.
