By:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 06, 2023 — (TSXV: NBM) (OTCQB: NBMFF)
- Appointed Dr. S. G. Kim, a Silicon/Polymer Material and Chemical Technology Development Expert, as Chief Technology Officer
- Former Executive Vice President and Head of R&D of Hanwha Solutions, a South Korean Chemical Manufacturing Conglomerate with $10B in Sales and $8B Market Capitalization
- Held Previous Executive Level Leadership Role at Momentive, Global 2nd Largest Silicon Product Company, including Dow Chemical Corporation, LG Innotek, and Samsung Fine Chemicals
- Will Lead Technology Development and Strategy for Timely Commercialization of NEO Silicon Anode Materials on a Full-Time Basis
Dr. S. G. Kim, a specialist in silicon/polymer material and chemical technology development, has been named as NEO’s Chief Technological Officer (“CTO“). NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (“NEO” or the “Company”) develops low-cost silicon anode materials that enable longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries.
The South Korean corporation Hanwha Solutions’ Advanced Materials Division, which manufactures chemicals and has sales of $10 billion USD, employed Dr. Kim as its Executive Vice President and Head of R&D. Dr. Kim led Hanwha Solutions to double the new product sales and increase the core technology portfolio by directing multiple value-added projects for international automotive, aerospace, and electronics businesses. His duties included new product development and commercial plant construction. Dr. Kim also overlooked inorganic growth initiatives by concluding two M&A deals that strengthened Hanwha’s electronics and hydrogen businesses between 2021 and 2022.
NEO’s CTO, Dr. S. G. Kim, said: “I am so excited to join NEO’s roadmap to commercialization. Based on my many years of experience in chemical product R&D, I am confident that I’ll utilize my knowledge and lead NEO’s R&D team to ensure that our products are integrated into every battery for an electric vehicle because the promise, performance, and potential of NEO’s silicon anode material are currently unmatched by any competitor. Using my current international business and R&D network, NEO will explore more business opportunities.
Before joining Hanwha Solutions, Dr. Kim held tenure as the global R&D leader at Momentive Performance Materials, the second-largest global manufacturer of silicon-based products. Likewise, Dr. Kim successfully increased new product viability and led manufacturing plant construction to supply critical components to Momentive’s global electronics customers. Previously, Dr. Kim also served in senior research positions at the Dow Chemical Company, LG Innotek, and Samsung Fine Chemicals.
According to Mr. Spencer Huh, President and CEO of NEO, “With Dr. Kim’s proven track record of chemical product development in the silicon, polymer, and lithium-ion battery space, we now have a full-fledged leadership and technical team to accelerate NEO’s silicon anode innovation and to strengthen our connections with key players in the international battery market. Dr. Kim’s experience in leading global technology companies and his extensive business network will allow NEO to gain new strategic, value-enhancing opportunities for growth.”
Dr. Kim received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Inha University in South Korea, and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering and applied chemistry from the University of Toronto in Canada. He holds 15 patents related to polymers, coatings, and silicon-based materials and has published high-impact journals on polymers and nanocomposites.
About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
The Vancouver-based NEO Battery Materials Ltd. specializes in lithium-ion battery materials for electric vehicle and energy storage applications. In contrast to lithium-ion batteries that employ graphite as their anode material, NEO concentrates on manufacturing silicon anode materials utilizing its patented one-step nanocoating technique. The business aims to supply silicon-anode active materials to the electric car market. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: https://neobatterymaterials.com/.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Spencer Huh
President and CEO
604-355-6463
shuh@neobatterymaterials.com
In addition to the management’s goals, strategies, assumptions, and intentions, this news release also contains some forward-looking statements. Words like “may,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” and similar expressions that refer to future events and results are frequently used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the management’s current beliefs and projections. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, such as the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and validity of technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale, competitive risks, and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our most recent securities filings, which are accessible at www.sedar.com. We caution against relying on forward-looking statements since actual events or outcomes could significantly differ from anticipated. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as applicable law requires.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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