Elevated Materials Appoints Dr. Soonho Ahn to Board of Directors, Deepening Technical Leadership as Company Scales Advanced Battery Solutions

Renowned battery innovator to support Elevated Materials' next phase of growth and commercial execution

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevated Materials, a leading innovator in advanced battery technologies, today announced the appointment of Dr. Soonho Ahn to its Board of Directors. A globally respected authority in battery science and engineering, Dr. Ahn brings more than three decades of leadership and technical expertise across the automotive, consumer electronics, and energy storage sectors.

Dr. Ahn was most recently the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Board Member of PowerCo, Volkswagen Group's dedicated battery company. His pioneering career has included executive roles as Global Head of Battery Developments at Apple Inc., and senior leadership positions overseeing battery development at Samsung SDI and LG Chem. His work has helped shape the foundational technologies powering electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and grid storage applications today.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ahn to our board," said Jim Cushing, CEO of Elevated Materials. "His deep expertise in advanced batteries will be invaluable as we scale to meet surging global demand. Elevated is focused on solving one of the toughest challenges in energy storage — delivering ultra-thin lithium films that unlock higher energy density, longer life, and faster charging for next-generation batteries."

Dr. Ahn's accomplishments include the first commercialization of key industry innovations widely used today, such as magnetically oriented graphite anodes, NMC cathodes, ceramic-coated separators, and high-voltage solid-state architectures. A respected voice in battery science, he has been recognized with more than 240 international patents and was a distinguished invited lecturer before the Royal Swedish Academy of Science in 2009.

"I believe Elevated Materials' approach represents true innovation in a space that urgently needs it," said Dr. Ahn. "I look forward to supporting this important work as Elevated brings ultra-thin lithium films to the Gigascale."

Elevated Materials, a TPG Rise Climate portfolio company, was established as a carve-out from Applied Materials following ten years of internal development. Elevated Materials' ultra-thin lithium films unlock safer, lighter, and higher-performing batteries for electric mobility, consumer devices, and grid applications. Dr. Ahn's appointment underscores the company's focus on technical leadership and innovation as it advances its mission to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Dr. Ahn joins a board that combines deep industry, investment, and technology expertise and reflects Elevated Materials' position as a critical enabler of the next generation of energy storage solutions.

About Elevated Materials
Elevated Materials is a TPG Rise Climate portfolio company, carved out of Applied Materials, and focused on scaling breakthrough battery technologies to accelerate global decarbonization and electrification. The company draws on decades of expertise in semiconductors and roll-to-roll vacuum deposition to deliver the industry's widest and highest-quality ultra-thin lithium films. Elevated's films boost energy density, extend battery life, and enable significantly faster charging across all lithium-ion battery applications and anode chemistries.

SOURCE Elevated Materials