Release Date: 3/18/2009

Columbus, OH—Charles “Chuck” McConnell has joined Battelle as corporate leader of its Carbon Management line of business, bringing innovation and experience to the Battelle Energy Technology team.  McConnell has more than 30 years of experience building and leading successful business units in various leadership positions in the oil and gas industry.

Chuck McConnell will hold the portfolio of the Vice President of Carbon Management, running one of Battelle Energy’s five major commercial energy businesses lines.  He will be responsible for guiding Battelle’s drive to realizing commercial returns from innovations in systems to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from hydrocarbon conversion and industrial processes.

 
Most recently, while serving as Global Vice President of Praxair, Inc., Chuck McConnell assumed responsibility of Oxy-Coal Technology and R&D development as well as leadership of the external funding responsibilities and governmental relations in alternative energy lobby and advocacy efforts.  At the same time, he directed business for Praxair’s North American Sustainable Development program.  He provided vision and direction in the expansion of the hydrogen and gasification business for Praxair worldwide.

 
Prior to that, McConnell served in a variety of roles for Praxair, including stewardship of its North American Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide operations and as a managing director for Praxair’s Asian markets.

Chuck McConnell has been a member of boards and councils, including the Gasification Technologies Council (1996-Present), appointment to the FurureGen Advisory Board, the Gulf Coast Carbon Center (2003-Present), T&P Syngas Company (1995-Present), Pittsburgh Coal Council, Coal Utilization Research Council, and served as Chairman of Clean Coal Technology Foundation of Texas.

He received his BS in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and his MBA in Finance from Cleveland State University in Cleveland.

Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, providing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses:  Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences.   It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting 5.2 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization.   Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Battelle’s Global Energy Technology business translates Battelle’s basic and applied energy R&D base into innovative commercial solutions, products and services.  Including the operations of national laboratories, Battelle oversees nearly $900 million annually in energy-related research contributing to advances in climate change solutions, bio-energy, fuel cells, nuclear power, and energy infrastructure.

Contact Public Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or delaneyk@battelle.org or T.R. Massey, media relations specialist, at (614) 424-5544 or masseytr@battelle.org for more information.