Taking lithium-ion battery materials to a higher level

Ascend Elements is creating a domestic supply of critical minerals and engineered lithium-ion battery materials through “urban mining” and the innovative Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis technology.

We are creating the future of sustainable, EV battery
manufacturing and recycling

Revolutionizing battery materials production for a clean and sustainable supply chain

Working toward 100%
Li-ion battery recycling by improving recycling economics

Returning 100% of critical battery active materials back into the domestic supply chain

Preserving and uplifting critical materials for the batteries that power the clean-energy transition

Patented Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis process completes the supply chain loop.

Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. The patented Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis technology produces new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. Our approach launches a truly closed-loop circular battery economy by:

A decade of innovation in battery materials and recycling

Leadership Team

Linh Austin
President & CEO

Linh Austin, a veteran of the U.S. and international energy industry, was appointed President and CEO in 2025. He had previously served on the company’s Board of Directors. Linh has 30+ years of progressive experience in directing U.S. and International oil & gas businesses, hydrogen companies, P&L management, mergers & acquisitions, strategy and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction). He has held senior-level roles at McDermott, BP and ARCO.

Eric Gratz Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer

Eric Gratz, Ph.D. is Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Ascend Elements. He served as CEO of Battery Resourcers from 2016 to 2020. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Boston University and was a post-doctoral fellow at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the lab of Prof. Yan Wang. Working closely with Prof. Wang, Eric co-developed the innovative cathode synthesis technology that has grown into Ascend Elements’ Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology. Eric frequently speaks at EV battery industry events and he serves on the technology committee of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Li-Bridge public-private program. 

John Swiger
Chief Financial Officer

John Swiger joined Ascend Elements as CFO in June 2025. He is an experienced finance executive having worked over 25 years in the energy industry. Most recently, he served as Treasurer at Tellurian, Inc. (acquired by Woodside Energy in 2024). Previously, he held leadership positions at Chevron Corporation and the Golden Pass LNG joint venture between Qatar Energy and ExxonMobil. He started his career as a chemical engineer at Honeywell UOP. His subject matter expertise extends all functional areas of finance including debt and capital raising, board engagement, investor relations, treasury operations, project finance, mergers & acquisitions, and commodity trading.

Kelley Burke
VP of Human Resources

Kelley Burke joined the Ascend Elements leadership team as Vice President of Human Resources in 2024. Kelley joined the company from Wayfair, where she held several leadership positions over 9 years. She brings exceptional experience in talent strategy, team leadership, training and development, and performance management to the company. Kelley has also held HR roles at Ropes & Gray LLP and Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Tomasz Poznar, Ph.D.
SVP, Commercial

Tomasz Poznar, Ph.D. joined Ascend Elements in 2021 and currently serves as SVP of Commercial & Strategy. He has diverse battery industry experience in multiple functional areas, including strategic planning, products and new business development. His previous employers include A123 Systems, EnerDel, Delco Remy and Volvo. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology in Poland.

Deacon Powell
General Counsel

Deacon Powell joined Ascend Elements in July 2025 as General Counsel. He is a civil law and common law qualified attorney with deep expertise in construction law and more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry. From the Middle East and Southeast Asia to the United States, he has overseen legal, compliance, contracts and risk management functions for many in-house clients. His previous employers include a NYSE-traded engineering and construction firm with multi-billion-dollar operations globally and a cybersecurity venture between a major U.S. defense contractor and the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.