About Ascend Elements | Manufacturing advanced battery materials from discarded EV batteries

Taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level

Ascend Elements raises the value of the battery supply chain by manufacturing advanced battery materials using valuable elements reclaimed from discarded lithium-ion batteries.

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

Mike O’Kronley
CEO

Appointed CEO in March, 2020, having previously served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. Previously the Head of Corporate Strategy at A123 Systems; previous management, business development, operations and engineering roles at Metaldyne Corp. and Robert Bosch. Bachelors and Masters in Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Andrew Aberdale
CFO

Joined the Company in February, 2020. Previously CFO of Target Hospitality, (NASDAQ: TH) which he helped lead to an IPO in March 2019 for $1.4 billion, having served in various capacities at TH since 2010. Previously in private consulting and 12 years of engineering, manufacturing and plant management with W.R. Grace & Co. BS Chemical Engineering from WPI, MBA from St. Mary’s College of California. Co-Vice Chairman Board of Trustees at WPI.

Ian Braime
Chief Commercial Officer

Appointed Chief Commercial Officer in September 2021. 10 years within the global lithium ion battery industry as Sales Director for Britishvolt and Executive Director for Business Development & Product Strategy with A123 Systems. Previous customer engagement and sales leadership roles with Magal Engineering, Dura Automotive and Freudenberg. Post Grad Certification in Management Studies from Nottingham Trent University UK, HNC in Mechanical & Production Engineering Loughborough College UK.

Tomasz Poznar, Ph.D.
Vice President,
Strategy & General
Manager, Europe

Joined the Company in 2021. Tomasz has diverse industry experience in multiple functional areas, including strategy planning, product and new business development. He came to Ascend Elements from A123 Systems where he was responsible for corporate strategy and business development. Previous experience includes various executive roles and many years of lithium battery and vehicle electrification expertise at EnerDel, Delco Remy and Volvo.

Eric Gratz Ph.D.
CTO

Dr. Gratz is a co-founder of the Company. He has been with the Company from 2016 to present, during which time he has raised $1.9 million of financing and $2.4 million of grants. Previously a Professor at WPI, and a Research Assistant at Boston University. Ph.D. Material Science and Engineering from Boston University, BS Chemistry, University of Washington.

Daniel P. Russell
COO

With the Company since 2019. Previously, VP Operations at 24M Technologies, SVP Operations at Pixelligent Technologies; VP International Operations, Evergreen Solar; Design Engineering Manager, Honeywell; Department Manager, Texas Instruments. Masters in Management from WPI and BS Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University. Six Sigma and PMP certified.

Roger Lin
Vice President,
Government Relations

Joined the Company in 2021. With 18 years battery experience, Roger also serves on the board of directors at the US Energy Storage Association; previously he was VP Technical Marketing & Strategy at an advanced battery startup, VP of Markets and Strategy at LS Energy Solutions, VP Marketing at NEC Energy Solutions, and Senior Director of Product Marketing at A123 Systems. M.S. in Engineering Materials Science MIT, B.S. Ceramic Engineering Rutgers University, inventor on ten patents.

Andrea Lobato J.D.
General Counsel

Joined the Company in 2024 as General Counsel. Extensive experience advising cutting edge technology companies in highly regulated industries, including as Director of Compliance for Lyft and Chief Legal Officer for Eaze Technologies. Previously practiced as a litigator at Latham & Watkins and clerked for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. JD from University of Southern California Law School and BA from the University of California Berkeley.