Sean Gilgunn appointed UKBIC's new Managing Director

The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), the national battery manufacturing scale-up facility, has appointed Sean Gilgunn as its new Managing Director. 

Sean, who will take up the post at the Coventry-based £130m facility in October, joins UKBIC from Johnson Matthey where he has worked across various business areas, most recently as Global Procurement Director, Strategy & Operations. 

Prior to this, Sean was based in Poland as General Manager and President of the Board of Directors for JM Battery Systems, a leading manufacturer of batteries across a wide range of applications. He has also spent a number of years leading global business units and key accounts focusing on critical markets including South Korea, China and South East Asia more broadly. 

Sean was appointed by the UKBIC Board to lead the organisation, following the announcement in April that incumbent, Jeff Pratt, will be leaving at the end of his appointment in September 2023. 

UKBIC is a key part of the Faraday Battery Challenge, a UK Government programme to fast track the development of cost-effective, high-performance, durable, safe, low-weight and recyclable batteries. 

Sean, the incoming Managing Director, said: “I am really pleased to have been appointed to the role of Managing Director for UKBIC. The opportunity to lead an organisation whose work is pivotal to the UK’s ambition to create a strong and sustainable battery manufacturing industry is truly unique. I am excited by the opportunity to drive forward UKBIC’s strategy in supporting the growing industrial opportunity for battery production at scale, and to work with our partners across the UK ecosystem to ensure we are providing the right environment for businesses to thrive.” 

Richard Moon, Chairman of UKBIC’s Board and Director of Property Services & Development, Coventry City Council, commented: “I’m delighted that Sean has taken on the role of Managing Director at UKBIC. He brings an impressive background in strategic and operational leadership, which includes more than 20 years of international commercial and management experience in the B2B battery systems, automotive and chemical sectors. It’s this experience which will be vital in guiding the organisation forward in the years ahead.” 

Tony Harper, the Faraday Battery Challenge’s Director, added: “This is a hugely exciting time for Sean to be joining UKBIC. With the global transition to zero emission vehicles well underway, and with the commitment from AESC and Tata Group to build battery manufacturing plants in the UK, we are seeing strong signs that the UK is on the right path to delivering a world class battery industry. I’m delighted that Sean will be leading UKBIC to enable manufacturing opportunities as part of our joined-up ecosystem.” 

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