19 January 2026 – Adelaide, Australia | Iondrive Limited (ASX:ION) has announced a leadership transition as the Company moves from technology development into execution, scale-up and commercial deployment, with its Australian pilot plant entering early-stage commissioning.
The Board has appointed Mr Lewis Utting as Chief Executive Officer, reflecting Iondrive’s increasing focus on disciplined technical execution alongside accelerated commercial engagement across battery recycling and broader IONSolv™ applications. Mr Utting has served as Commercial Director for the Company since November 2024 and brings extensive experience in the commercialisation and scale-up of advanced materials, chemicals and critical-minerals technologies.
As part of the transition, Dr Ebbe Dommisse will continue to work with the Company over the next three months as he moves away from the CEO role, focusing on project delivery, operational scale-up and in-market execution of the IONSolv™ platform, before continuing to support Iondrive as required. The Board noted Dr Dommisse’s instrumental role in the development of the Company’s technology and emphasised that the transition is designed to preserve deep technical knowledge while supporting ongoing execution.
The Board has also strengthened its technical depth with the appointment of Dr Duncan Turner as a Non-Executive Director. Dr Turner is a highly regarded metallurgist and chemist with global experience in extractive metallurgy and process commercialisation, and is best known as a co-developer of the Albion Process, a widely adopted oxidative leaching technology. His appointment is intended to support Iondrive as it advances toward modular deployment and commercialisation.
Dr Jack Hamilton will step down as a Non-Executive Director at the end of January 2026 following the completion of agreed transition arrangements. The Board thanked Dr Hamilton for his contribution during an important phase of the Company’s development.
Commenting on the Appointment of Mr Utting, Iondrive Chairman, Mr Michael McNeilly, stated: “Mr Utting has already made a strong contribution to Iondrive’s commercial progress and brings deep experience in technology commercialisation and capital markets.
With a solid technical foundation now in place, this leadership transition positions the Company to focus on execution and capture growing opportunities across battery recycling, e-waste and solar infrastructure markets.
The Board also thanks Dr Ebbe Dommisse for his leadership during the development phase and his professionalism during the transition period and his continued support of the Company.”
Mr Utting has been appointed for an initial six-month term, during which the Board and management will work together to advance near-term commercial opportunities, deepen strategic partner engagement and ensure the Company is well positioned for its next phase of growth.
An investor webinar will be held today, Monday 19th January 2026, at 12pm AEDT, where Mr Utting will address the leadership changes and provide a company update.
About us:
About Iondrive
Iondrive is developing IONSolv™, an innovative metal extraction platform for the selective recovery of critical minerals. The technology operates at low temperatures, avoids aggressive acids, and uses tunable chemistry to enable efficient, closed-loop extraction across a range of feedstocks. While initial deployment is in battery materials, IONSolv™ is designed for broader application in mineral processing and urban mining of e-waste.
Contact details:
Jane Morgan
Jane Morgan Management
Investor & Media Relations
[email protected]
