COnovate names Craig Rigby CEO to speed battery material commercialization

COnovate has named battery veteran Craig Rigby as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately, as the Wisconsin company pushes to commercialize and scale U.S.-based production of its eCOphite anode materials. Founder Carol Hirschmugl moves to chief technology officer to focus on materials innovation and process development. Why it matters: - COnovate is trying to move faster on commercialization of eCOphite, its advanced anode material for lithium-ion batteries. - The leadership shift is aimed at speeding U.S.-based production and supporting a more resilient domestic battery supply chain. - eCOphite is positioned as a safer, higher-capacity alternative to graphite-based anodes and as a potential performance additive for batteries using lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, cathodes. What happened: - COnovate appointed Craig Rigby as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. - Founder Dr. Carol Hirschmugl moved from CEO to chief technology officer. - The company said the change is designed to accelerate commercialization and scale-up of materials production. - Rigby has served on COnovate’s board of directors since 2022. The details: - Rigby brings more than two decades of leadership experience in battery technology, engineering and business development. - He previously held executive roles at Clarios, formerly Johnson Controls Power Solutions. - At Clarios, Rigby led technology deployment, business models, strategic partnerships and government engagement. - He also served on the board of directors of Amara Raja Battery Ltd. - Rigby led engineering for a joint venture with French battery maker Saft. - Early in his career, Rigby helped with the first-generation hybrid vehicle launches at Ford Motor Company. - Hirschmugl will now focus full time on material innovation, process development and COnovate’s technical roadmap. - COnovate says eCOphite anodes are derived from renewable, organic, U.S.-sourced feedstocks. - The material can serve as a full anode replacement or as an additive alongside graphite. - COnovate says its technology is based on graphene monoxide, or GmO, described by the company as the first solid form of carbon monoxide at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. - The company says it holds foundational patents and has continued developing intellectual property for lithium-ion battery applications. - A company contact listed in the release is Connie Tommerdahl, director of operations, at +1 415-272-9820. - COnovate also provided a LinkedIn page: the company’s social page . Between the lines: - The move separates commercialization responsibilities from technical development, a common step when a materials company tries to move from lab work to manufacturing scale. - Rigby’s background in battery manufacturing, partnerships and government engagement suggests COnovate wants execution help as much as product expertise. - The emphasis on domestic sourcing and U.S.-based production points to supply chain security as a selling point, not just battery performance. What’s next: - Rigby is expected to lead COnovate’s next stage of growth and commercial rollout. - Hirschmugl is expected to push the company’s materials and process development agenda as CTO. - COnovate will continue working to bring high-performance, domestically sourced anode materials to market. The bottom line: - COnovate is putting a battery industry veteran in charge to help turn its anode technology into a commercial product.