Sounds like Alpha Tech paid this guy a load of money to "consult" for them.  Probably because the current management of Alpha Tech didn't know what they were doing.  So Eric acts as a figure head and that is it.  I've never seen him post on the forums, here or on the AT website, and this is the first time I've even noticed him.  If this guy was their head of ASIC development he is doing a lot to avoid getting too close to Alpha-Tech.