Graphene Manufacturing Group appoints former Rio Tinto executive to drive production growth Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd (TSX-V:GMG, OTCQX:GMGMF) said it has appointed a former senior executive from Rio Tinto Ltd as chief production growth officer, as the company looks to scale up its graphene manufacturing operations globally.

The Brisbane-based company said Stuart Watson, who previously served as global head of technical development at Rio Tinto, will join its senior leadership team to help expand production capacity and support commercialization efforts.

Watson brings more than 30 years of experience across metals and mining, oil and chemicals, including two decades at Rio Tinto. His career includes leading transformation programs valued at more than $5 billion and overseeing mergers and acquisitions worth over $1 billion, as well as directing significant global research and development investments.

GMG CEO Craig Nicol said Watson’s appointment would strengthen the company’s ability to execute its growth strategy. “(H)e is a great addition to the Senior Executive Team for both executive leadership and delivery capability. I will enjoy working with Stuart to expand our production across our graphene and graphene products around the world."

Non-executive chairman Jack Perkowski added the company expects Watson to play a key role in advancing its North American expansion plans.

Separately, GMG said it remains on track to deliver its Gen 2.0 graphene production project by the end of June 2026 at its Richlands facility in Queensland, Australia. The project is expected to produce at least 10 tonnes of graphene per year.

Once operational, the company plans to replicate the production model globally, targeting lower-cost jurisdictions and proximity to natural gas supplies, a key input in its manufacturing process.

GMG said it is currently evaluating three expansion projects, including two in North America and one in Australia.

Its broader expansion strategy includes developing five types of facilities: graphene production plants, coating and lubricant blending plants, a graphene slurry plant for battery additives, and a battery assembly plant focused on graphene aluminium-ion batteries.