Fortscue Future Industries announces new US-based CTO

Fortescue Metals Group’s green energy division has announced a new chief technology officer, with US-based Stan Knez to begin in the role on February 1.

Fortescue Future Industries made the announcement on Monday, lauding Knez’s three decades’ experience in “global technology portfolios and alliance technology partnerships.”

Knez is a chemical engineer by training and has held senior executive roles at Shaw Energy & Chemicals and, more recently, overseeing technology portfolio, product lines and R&D as CTO of Technip Energies.

According to its website, Technip is a company of 15,000 employees and operates in 34 countries, specialising in LNG engineering and construction projects and with “new projects in hydrogen, sustainable chemistry, biofuels, CO2 management/Decarbonization”.

“We are looking forward to Stan joining the FFI team. He brings proven leadership skills and a strong track record in identifying early phase energy transition technologies for potential strategic positioning or investment,” said Julie Shuttleworth, FFI’s CEO.

“We are seeing growing demand for green energy solutions, as industries look for greener fuels to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals. I’m excited to join the FFI team to help meet that demand,” added Knez in a statement.

FFI has a goal of producing 15 million tonnes per annum of green hydrogen by 2030.

The news follows its agreement to acquire electric vehicle technology business Williams Advanced Engineering, announced last week.

FFI is scheduled to begin construction of its hydrogen electrolyser factory in Gladstone, Queensland next month, with planned output measured in the gigawatts per annum.

Picture: smallcaps.com.au

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