Iondrive (ASX:ION) has appointed Dr Grant Caffery as chief executive officer from August, completing a planned executive leadership transition.
Caffery comes from BHP (ASX:BHP), where he served as head of innovation. He brings extensive executive leadership experience spanning innovation, technology, commercialisation, and expertise in the global resources sector.
During his time as innovation head for BHP, he led the identification, development, and commercial application of transformational technologies.
Iondrive says Caffery’s experience provides a ‘strong’ foundation for leading the company’s commercial scale-up of its IONSolv metal extraction platform.
Current CEO Lewis Utting transitions to the newly created role of chief strategy and commercial officer, reporting to Dr Caffery.
Utting was appointed chief executive in January with a six-month mandate to accelerate commercialisation of the IONSolv technology platform and establish foundations for global growth, particularly in the US.
During this period, Iondrive matured a pipeline of opportunities across feedstock supply, product offtake, and strategic partnerships in North America, Europe, and Australia.
The company secured a letter of intent with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, providing a pathway to funding support with a target aggregate value of up to US$15 million ($21.43 million).
Chairman Michael McNeilly says Lewis was given a ‘clear mandate’ to accelerate the commercialisation of Iondrive’s technology while the board completed its search for a long-term chief executive.
“He has delivered emphatically,” McNeilly says.
He adds that Caffery’s CEO appointment is a ‘statement of intent’ for Iondrive and the IONSolv platform.
“[Dr Caffery’s] track record leading innovation and commercialisation within one of the world’s largest resources companies is exactly what Iondrive needs as it scales into production.”
The incoming chief executive says Iondrive presents one of the most compelling opportunities he has seen in the critical minerals sector, with independently verified processing performance and a defined US deployment pathway.
“I look forward to working alongside Lewis, Kevin, and the board and the broader team to deliver the Oklahoma project, replicate the commercial model across new partners and geographies, and establish Iondrive as a globally significant participant in the rare earth circular economy,” Caffery says.
Iondrive is advancing IONSolv, an innovative metal extraction platform for selective recovery of critical minerals across multiple feedstocks.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Iondrive
