Back

Iondrive appoints former BHP Head of Innovation, Dr Grant Caffery, as CEO to lead move toward commercialisation

Jane Morgan Management

Key Facts:

• Iondrive Limited has appointed Dr Grant Caffery, former Head of Innovation at BHP, as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 August 2026, to lead the commercialisation of its IONSolv™ critical minerals processing technology.
• Outgoing CEO Lewis Utting will transition to the role of Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, retaining responsibility for commercial strategy, government engagement, financing, mergers and acquisitions, and international expansion.
• Over the past six months, the company has significantly advanced its commercial position, building a pipeline of feedstock supply, product offtake and strategic partnership opportunities across North America, Europe and Australia.
• Iondrive secured a Letter of Intent with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce providing a pathway to funding support with a target aggregate value of up to US$15 million, and independently verified industry-leading recoveries of key rare earth elements using its IONSolv™ platform.
• Wet commissioning of the company's pilot plant remains targeted for the fourth quarter of calendar 2026, following design enhancements aimed at broadening processing flexibility and managing development costs.

20 July 2026 – Adelaide, Australia | Iondrive Limited (ASX: ION) has strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of former BHP Head of Innovation, Dr Grant Caffery, as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 August 2026, as the company advances the commercialisation of its proprietary IONSolv™ critical minerals processing technology. 

The appointment comes at a pivotal stage for the company, and follows six months of significant commercial progress that has positioned Iondrive among a select group of companies globally advancing towards first commercial production in rare earth recycling and critical minerals processing. 

Dr Caffery brings extensive experience in innovation, technology commercialisation and the global resources sector, most recently serving as Head of Innovation at BHP, where he led the development and commercial application of transformational technologies across one of the world’s largest mining companies.

The leadership transition follows a six-month period during which outgoing CEO Mr Lewis Utting was tasked with accelerating commercialisation and establishing the foundations for global growth, particularly in the United States. During this period, Iondrive advanced its commercial position through a rapidly expanding pipeline of feedstock supply, product offtake and strategic partnership opportunities across North America, Europe and Australia. 

The company also secured a Letter of Intent with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce providing a pathway to funding support with a target aggregate value of up to US$15 million, while independently verifying the recoveries of neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium using its IONSolv™ platform. It has also confirmed wet commissioning of its pilot plant remains targeted for the fourth quarter of the 2026 calendar year following design enhancements to broaden processing flexibility and manage development costs. 

As part of the executive transition, Mr Utting will become Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, where he will continue leading the company’s commercial strategy, strategic partnerships, government engagement, financing initiatives, licensing opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, and international expansion of the platform. 

Iondrive Chairman, Mr Michael McNeilly, commented:

“When Lewis accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer earlier this year, it was with a clear mandate to accelerate the commercialisation of Iondrive’s technology while the Board completed its search for a long-term Chief Executive Officer. He has delivered emphatically. Iondrive is a fundamentally different company today, independently validated, with a defined pathway to government funding support and commercial momentum that is building on both the supply and offtake sides of its first deployment. 

Securing an executive of Dr Caffery’s calibre is a statement of intent for Iondrive, and the IONSolv™ platform. His track record leading innovation and commercialisation within one of the world’s largest resources companies is exactly what Iondrive needs as it scales into production. Pairing that track record with Lewis’ commercial drive, Kevin Hobbie’s leadership on the ground in the U.S., and Ray Ridge’s financial diligence and regulatory rigour gives us a world class leadership team. This transition strengthens our executive capability at precisely the moment the opportunity demands it.”

Iondrive’s Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Dr Grant Caffery, commented:

“Iondrive is one of the most compelling opportunities I have seen in the critical minerals sector. Independently verified, industry-leading processing performance, a defined US deployment pathway and surging global demand for secure rare earth supply — the foundations are firmly in place, and the opportunity now is to execute at scale. 

I look forward to working alongside Lewis, Kevin and the Board and the broader team to deliver the Oklahoma project, replicate the commercial model across new partners and geographies, and establish Iondrive as a globally significant participant in the rare earth circular economy.”

The Board said the appointment reflects its commitment to matching Iondrive’s growing commercial momentum with executive capability as the company moves into commercial deployment across Australia, North America and Europe. 

Jane Morgan
Investor and Media Relations
[email protected]

Lewis Utting
Iondrive Limited
Chief Executive Officer (ceasing 1 Aug 2026)
Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer (from 1 Aug 2026)
[email protected]

About us:

About Iondrive Limited

IONDRIVE is advancing IONSolv™, an innovative metal extraction platform designed to support selective recovery of critical minerals across multiple feedstocks. The platform is being developed for scalable deployment across battery materials, rare earths and e-waste, with a focus on commercialisation pathways aligned to emerging critical-minerals supply chains.

Contact details:

Jane Morgan Management
Investor & Media Relations
[email protected]