Ionic Rare Earths Ltd has strengthened its board with the appointment of experienced electric vehicle (EV) supply chain executive Nitin Tyagi as a non-executive director with effect from July 1, 2023.
The new director will be working to optimise IonicRE’s supply chain engagement, specifically focusing on relationships in the United States and European Union, with an initial key area being the EV market.
Tyagi is currently VP of supply chain at Our Next Energy (ONE), a battery company based in Novi, Michigan, and his experience and expertise is expected to benefit IonicRE as it steps up efforts to feed the EV supply chain.
“First-hand experience”
“Mr Tyagi joins the IonicRE board as we have begun production of high purity, recycled magnet rare earth oxides at our Demonstration Plant at Ionic Technologies Belfast facility in the UK and as we make progress on our Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project in Uganda,” IonicRE managing director Tim Harrison said.
“The commercialisation of our recycling technology and our focus on the delivery of the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project positions us to provide a secure, sustainable and traceable supply of magnet REOs.
“IonicRE is accelerating its mining, refining and recycling to align with global policy priorities and Mr Tyagi has first-hand experience of off-taker objectives and demand growth in the EU, North Asia and the US."
Relevant previous roles
Before joining ONE, Tyagi was the director of Battery Supply Chain at Rivian Automotive, managing all nodes of the battery supply chain from mines to battery packs to recycling.
He scaled-up and ramped four electric vehicle programs - R1T, R1S, EDV NCA, EDV LFP - from pre-production to launch, and drove the iron-phosphate chemistry adoption on Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Electric Delivery Vans resulting in significant cost savings.
Previously, Tyagi was part of Apple’s operations and supply chain team and helped launch more than 20 Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) products, including every iPhone from iPhone 6 to iPhone 12.
Before Apple, he was in various engineering roles at Cree and Sun Catalytix (acquired by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) in 2014).
Inventor of patents
Tyagi is the co-inventor of 12 US patents and holds a MS in material science from University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Technology in Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
He is also pursuing his executive MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and serves as an advisor to Ather Energy in India.
“Mr Tyagi is pivotal to us monetising our technology for our mining, refining and recycling of magnets and heavy rare earths which are critical for the energy transition, advanced manufacturing and defence,” Harrison said.
Resignation of Trevor Benson
Meantime, Trevor Benson has advised the IonicRE board that due to personal reasons he has tendered his resignation to be effective as of June 30, 2023.
“The board of IonicRE, and I personally, wish to thank Mr Benson for his contribution, advice and experience during his time since his appointment in August 2020,” Harrison said.
“During Mr Benson’s tenure, the company has made significant advances including the completion of the definitive feasibility study and award of environmental permits for the Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths deposit and the acquisition of Ionic Technologies International Limited.
“Mr Benson’s experience and contribution towards the assessment of corporate issues has been greatly appreciated,” Harrison added.