Announcement: Appointment of SVP, Battery Cathode Materials R&D

Umicore announed Laurent Gautier’s appointment as Senior Vice President (SVP) R&D Battery Cathode Materials, effective August 1st.

 
Laurent has been a driving force in the evolution of our battery materials business, playing a pivotal role in shaping Umicore’s strategic direction in this field. Throughout his career, Laurent has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge research and commercialization. He has built and expanded high-performing teams across continents, championed open innovation and digitalization to enhance our R&D capabilities, and played a key role in fostering an IP-driven mindset that contributed to build a robust intellectual property portfolio.  

Laurent joined Umicore in 1996 as the first externally hired researcher to focus on battery materials and then held several responsibilities in R&D and strategic planning. He oversaw the development of our first generations of cathode materials and the establishment of our production footprint in Korea. In his current interim role of head of R&D Battery Cathode Materials, Laurent has brought renewed focus to customer-centric product development and competency building.