Team
The Counterpoint Team
Collin Heller
Vice PresidentCollin joined Counterpoint in 2023 and leads the company. Prior to joining Counterpoint, he worked as a management and strategy consultant in the aviation, aerospace and industrial sectors. Throughout his consulting career, Collin has advised aircraft/engine manufacturers, airlines, governments, lessors and other industry suppliers. He holds a B.S. and M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Viha Smolders
Aerospace Market ManagerViha joined Counterpoint in March 2025, following nine years as an engineer at Boeing in Australia and the USA. Viha has worked on multiple defence and commercial aircraft platforms at Boeing, focussing on aerostructures and their technologies from concept to test, certification and production. Viha has a Bachelor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Queensland and a Master of Systems Engineering from the University of New South Wales.
Eduardo Grangeiro
Aerospace Market ManagerEduardo joined Counterpoint in 2025 with 10+ years in aerospace and management consulting. This experience includes nine years at Embraer supporting commercial aviation platforms from product development to customer support. At Collins Interiors, he led strategic initiatives to increase Reuse & Commonality and Obsolescence Management across the E2E value chain. He holds an MEng in Aeronautics at the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA-Brazil) and an MBA from Manchester Business School.
Joanne Zhang
ConsultantJoanne joined Counterpoint after completing her PhD degree in Aerospace Composites at the University of Bristol in 2017. Before coming to Counterpoint, Joanne had experience leading a project for a Tier-1 supplier focused on researching next-generation composite technology. Since joining Counterpoint, she has worked as a consultant, assisting clients with market research on composites and topics related to the China market. Joanne also holds an MEng degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Nicolas Merriman
Aerospace AnalystNicolas holds a First-class Honours Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southampton. He has experience in the design, manufacturing, and testing aerospace vehicles. Nicolas also has experience in mathematical modelling and analysing aerospace systems, as well as programming in multiple computer languages. Nicolas has worked as a data analyst and design engineer, bringing a deep passion for, and comprehensive knowledge of, the aerospace industry.
Rob Semple
Project Director, Aircraft InteriorsRob Semple has worked in the aerospace industry for 39 years, split between a career in Rolls-Royce and then aircraft interiors. This included working as Engineering and Programmes Director at Contour (now part of Safran), responsible for seating development projects.
For the last 11 years he has worked directly for airlines such as Finnair, United Airlines, AirTanker and Jet Airways as well as for suppliers on both retrofit and new aircraft projects which covered seating, in-flight entertainment, VVIP fit, monuments, crew rests, galleys, lavatories, and associated interior changes (bins, partitions, floor coverings etc).
Rob has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath and a MSc in Manufacturing Systems from the University of Warwick.