– USA, CA – DESTEN Inc., a leading developer of advanced lithium-ion battery technologies, announced the appointments of Ed Newbury, Ammar Abdulwahed Al Khudairy, and Buck Buckley to its Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in the fields of transportation, finance, technology, energy storage, government know-how & relationships, and corporate compliance.
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome these distinguished individuals to our Board of Directors and Board of Advisors. Their unique perspectives and insights will elevate our organization with greater dynamism and capacity to address the substantial opportunities present today in the lithium-ion battery industry,” said Chairman & CEO, Bader Al-Rezaihan.
Rodney Slater, former United States Secretary of Transportation has also joined the Board of Advisors.
About Rodney Slater
Rodney Slater is the subject of great admiration in the realm of transportation policy, law, and infrastructure development. Currently serving as a Senior Partner at Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Slater has been leading the firm’s transportation practice since 2001. Before joining Squire Patton Boggs, he served as the 13th United States Secretary of Transportation under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001. During his tenure, Slater played a key role in advancing crucial legislative initiatives such as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century and the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act.
Apart from his professional achievements, Slater is also deeply committed to social justice, education, and economic development initiatives. He serves on the board of directors of several companies and non-profit organizations, including Verizon Communications Inc., Stagwell Global, and the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, where he serves as chairman of the board of directors. He has also previously served as a director of Kansas City Southern and Transurban Group and EV charging infrastructure provider, EVgo, Inc..
His academic achievements consist of a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas, and he completed additional studies through the Advanced Leadership Initiative program at Harvard University in 2011.
His consistent and outstanding contributions to the US mobility sector make him a highly sought-after opinion leader in the field of transportation policy and infrastructure development, and a welcome addition to DESTEN’s Board of Advisors.
About Ed Newberry
Ed Newberry is a stalwart of the legal sector, having been with Squire Patton Boggs, a leading international law firm, for over 30 years. Newberry has held several leadership positions before his current role as Global Managing Partner, Policy, and a member of the Firm’s Executive Group. Ed is widely recognized as one of the leading lawyer-lobbyists in Washington DC and ranked by a leading magazine as one of the top 100 attorneys in the US and as a Leading Lawyer by The Legal 500. Before assuming his current role as a global managing partner, Ed served as managing partner of Patton Boggs, LLP, and led the firm’s merger with Squire Sanders to create Squire Patton Boggs, LLP
Ed’s current engagements include helping one of the largest technology companies in the world address challenges with the US government; assisting one of the largest Korean conglomerates in expanding its business operations in the US; and leading efforts to secure US government approval of the Pebble Mine in Alaska (which contains the largest copper reserves in the world); as well as assisting major sovereign nations in their relations with the US government.
Ed serves on numerous corporate boards, including publicly traded Ferrellgas (OTC: FGRR), and St. Regis Company; and retains a strong presence in the not-for-profit arena as a member of the Atlantic Council Board of Directors, and a director of the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. Newberry formerly served on the George Mason University Board of Visitors, by appointment of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine; as Vice-Chairman of the Kennedy Center Corporate Board; and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Building Museum.
With his extensive experience and expertise, Newberry will undoubtedly promote DESTEN’s capacity to address the needs of the electrification of the American mobility sector and the Energy infrastructure market.
About Ammar Abdulwahed Al Khudairy
Ammar Al Khudairy is a prominent fixture in the finance industry, with over 30 years of experience in various areas such as Corporate Banking, Project Finance, Corporate Finance, M&A, and Asset Management.
One of Al Khudairy’s most notable achievements was serving as the Chairman of the Saudi National Bank, the largest bank in Saudi Arabia, which was created as a result of the merger of National Commercial Bank and Samba, where he served as Chairman ahead of the merger. Before his role as Chairman, Al Khudairy also served as a Board Member, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and Managing Director/CEO at Banque Saudi Fransi.
Al Khudairy has also held numerous public and private board memberships, including Chairmanship positions at Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia, Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia, and Allianz Saudi Arabia, as well as serving as a board member of Almarai. He is the founder and Chairman of Amwal Capital Partners, an alternative assets management business based in Dubai and Riyadh. He has also served as a director in government-related entities such as the Real Estate Development Fund and the Economic Cities Authority.
Ammar earned a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering followed by an M.Sc. in Engineering Administration from George Washington University.
His appointment to DESTEN’s Board of Directors is expected to greatly expedite the company’s ambitions to become a major player in the battery industry.
About Walter “Buck” Buckley
Buck Buckley has been a national leader in venture capital for more than 25 years, investing professionally and personally in growth companies in industries that have been significantly impacted by technology.
His investing career began at Safeguard Scientifics, where he was VP of Acquisitions. He then went on to cofound ICG in 1996 and ran the company as Chairman and CEO for more than 20 years.
In 2020, he cofounded SEMCAP with Cyrus Vandrevala, where he is the Co-founder and Co-CIO. SEMCAP is a growth impact platform investing in companies at the forefront of seminal trends in the healthcare, education, and food & nutrition sectors.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Buckley is a director of several high-growth technology startups including Diagnostic Biochips, Dropps, Happy Being, and Margaux. He serves on the Board of Directors for Philadelphia-based FS Investments, a $34+ billion asset manager. He is on the advisory boards of the Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative, the UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School, the Starfinder Foundation, and the Vetri Foundation.
Buckley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Buckley loved soccer and played on the North Carolina soccer team under legendary Coach Anson Dorrance.
With his unassailable track record of success in building and growing innovative companies, Buckley brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to DESTEN, constituting an invaluable asset to the team.
About DESTEN Inc.
DESTEN Inc. is a leading developer of advanced lithium-ion battery technologies, with a focus on enabling sustainable, electric mobility and energy infrastructures. DESTEN’s technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we use energy.
For more information: https://desten.com/
- Disclaimer - News, data, and statements included in this release are intended exclusively for general information purposes. Talent4Boards does not guarantee that news is accurate or about the correct person and accepts neither liability for the consequences of the reader’s reliance, nor responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Nothing in this release should be considered for decisions about referred securities. Products and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
