Sublime Systems, a U.S. manufacturer working toward clean, innovative cement production, promoted Chief Operating Officer Rob Davies to the position of chief executive officer, and added two other board positions to accelerate the company’s growth to commercial manufacturing.
The role leverages Davies’ three decades of industrial leadership experience and recent period working with the Sublime team as advisor and COO. He succeeds co-founder Dr. Leah Ellis, who transitions from the CEO role after successfully leading Sublime from its 2020 spinout from the lab of her co-founder, MIT Professor Yet-Ming Chiang.
Sublime has advanced to pilot operations, poured Sublime Cement in multiple construction projects, secured competitive funding, attracted cement majors as co-development partners to scale globally, and is now readying for its first commercial factory.
“Leah’s vision to reshape cement production brought together a remarkable team and ecosystem of partners, and is what first drew me to Sublime over a year ago,” said Davies. “I am honored to partner with the Sublime leadership to apply my manufacturing experience and realize the company’s vision through this next phase of commercial growth and industrial expansion.”
Davies started his career and spent 20 years in the cement industry, working for Blue Circle, Lafarge and Holcim – a current Sublime strategic partner – and led a network of nine cement plants across the UK. He then spent 12 years in the global chemical industry, leading networks of activated carbon plants and carbon black facilities before bringing his experience to startups.
Additionally, Sublime announced board member Bill Brady has been appointed executive chairman. Brady has scaled multiple complex industrial and chemical manufacturing technologies and raised hundreds of millions in capital for companies including Kula Bio and Monolith Materials. Joining Brady is new board member Dr. Brian Baynes, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a successful chemical engineer, founder, VC, and current chairman of Verdox.
