25 Jan 2017 07:00
25th January 2017
Applied Graphene Materials plc
("Applied Graphene Materials", "the Group" or "the Company")
Board and operational appointments
Applied Graphene Materials, the producer of specialty graphene materials, announces the appointment of Gareth Hywel Jones (aged 48) to the Board as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, with effect from April 2017. Gareth is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years' financial experience.
Gareth joins from the Emco Wheaton Division of private equity owned Gardner Denver Inc., the global provider of industrial equipment, technologies and services, where he has been Finance Director since 2013. Prior to this he spent ten years in a number of roles at Syltone plc, including divisional Finance Director and Group Financial Controller. After its acquisition by Gardner Denver Inc. in 2004, Gareth became European Finance Director and then Divisional Director of the Blower Division. Before joining Syltone plc he was Finance Director of private equity backed start-up, Vireol Bio-Industries plc, which was seeking funding to design, construct and operate a bioethanol process facility. During his time with Vireol Bio-Industries, Gareth was responsible for securing equity investment and bank financing and played a key part in the acquisition of a new facility in the USA.
Gareth qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1993.
Operational Appointments
The appointment of Gareth comes at a period of significant planned development for the Company with two key operational appointments in the UK:
· William Weaver, as Technical Director, who joins from Nuplex industries, where he led the advanced coating collaborations with a large range of multi-nationals.
· Helen Hatcher, as the new Global Coatings Director who joins from Sudarshan Europe, where she was Head of Sales Marketing and Operations. Helen helped establish their European organisation in 2007.
The Company is also pleased to announce that as part of its continued development within the American markets, Kevin Jackson joined the team in December 2016 as the new United States Business Development Manager. Kevin joins from Ribbon Technology Corp where he managed a team developing manufacturing and selling speciality chemicals/coatings into North and South America.
Jon Mabbitt, Chief Executive, commented:
"We are delighted to welcome Gareth to Applied Graphene Materials. His extensive experience in materials and manufacturing will be a huge asset to the Company as it moves into the next phase of development. Additionally, his international experience and understanding of the US market will be of significant benefit as we continue to broaden our international opportunities.
We are equally excited about the key operational appointments we have made in the recent months. These reflect the ambition, confidence and clear progress the Company is making in its target sectors and geographies."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Other than as set out below, there is no further information to be disclosed under schedule 2(g) and Rule 17 of the AIM Rules in respect of Mr Jones' appointment.
Mr Jones is, or has been, a director of the following companies during the previous five years:
Current Directorships: | Previous Directorships: |
Gardner Denver Group Services Limited | Vireol Bio-Industries plc Vireol Limited |
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Applied Graphene Materials +44 (0) 1642 438 214
Jon Mabbitt, Chief Executive Officer
N+1 Singer +44 (0) 207 496 3000
Richard Lindley / Nick Owen / James White
Hudson Sandler +44 (0) 207 796 4133
Charlie Jack / Emily Dillon / Jocelyn Spottiswoode
Notes to Editors
Applied Graphene Materials
Applied Graphene Materials was founded by Professor Karl Coleman in 2010 with its operations and processes based on technology that he initially developed at Durham University. The Group is based at the Wilton Site on Teesside and was admitted to AIM in November 2013.
Applied Graphene Materials has developed a proprietary bottom-up process which produces graphene nanoplatelets of consistently high purity using a continuous process. The Group deploys two patent protected manufacturing processes based on sustainable, readily available raw materials. These processes do not rely on the supply of graphite, unlike a number of other graphene production techniques. Applied Graphene Materials owns the intellectual property and know-how behind these processes.
Applied Graphene Materials works in partnership with its customers using its knowledge and expertise to provide bespoke graphene dispersions and formats to deliver enhancements and benefits for a wide range of applications.