Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) (NASDAQ:PLL) (OTCMKTS:PDDTF) (FRA:PL4) has appointed lithium industry veteran David Klanecky as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO).
As COO, Klanecky will lead the implementation of the company’s integrated US-based lithium chemicals business and the development of the company’s operational capabilities.
According to the company, he will bring deep lithium industry engineering, construction and operations experience to the Piedmont team.
He will join Piedmont in April 2021 and will be based in the company’s Belmont, North Carolina headquarters.
“Qualified to lead operating team”
Piedmont chief executive officer and president Keith D Philips said: “We are pleased to welcome David to our senior management team. David’s experience in and enthusiasm for this industry are unmatched.
“Having had responsibility for the world’s leading hard rock-based lithium hydroxide businesses, including spodumene investments in Western Australia, lithium hydroxide plants in China and the lithium hydroxide project currently under construction in Kemerton, Western Australia, David is uniquely qualified to lead Piedmont’s operating team as we move into the execution stage of building America’s #1 integrated lithium hydroxide business.”
Klanecky’s experience
Klanecky has spent most of his career in senior operational, research & development, commercial and strategic leadership roles.
From 2013 to 2021, he served in increasingly senior management roles within Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB), the world’s leading lithium producer, including as VP Strategy and Corporate Development and most recently serving as VP – Lithium Operations – APAC/EU, with global responsibility for Albemarie’s manufacturing/operations, process technology and product management within the global lithium business.
He has also served as interim CEO of the MARBL joint venture between Albemarle and Mineral Resources Limited (ASX:MIN), which includes the Kemerton and Wodgina assets in Australia.
Before joining Albemarle, Klanecky had a 20-year career with the Dow Chemical Company that spanned the globe including expat assignments in Spain, Switzerland and China across a number of innovative industries.
In his last role with Dow, he served as global business director and launched the Dow Energy Material Business, focused on lithium-ion battery materials offerings to cell manufacturers and auto OEMs.
Klanecky has a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Nebraska and an Executive MBA from Arizona State/Thunderbird School of Global Management.