The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry, has appointed John Poli to the post of manufacturing operations director. He will be responsible for the facility’s manufacturing capability and is part of UKBIC’s executive team, reporting to managing director Jeff Pratt.

Before joining UKBIC, Mr Poli ran his own engineering consultancy, specialising in manufacturing engineering. Prior to that he was Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) power train manufacturing engineering director, responsible for global engine, electric drive and battery manufacturing. He had a 30-year career at JLR, eventually leading the team that created production systems and advanced technologies to enable electric propulsion.

Mr Poli said: “I am delighted to be joining UKBIC at this exciting time, helping to accelerate electrification in the UK and beyond. To be at the cutting edge of battery development is something I am excited about and one of the key reasons I wanted to join UKBIC.”

Mr Pratt said: “It is great to have John join our growing team, helping UKBIC to play a key role in developing and stimulating the race to a greener future. John’s knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the business.”

UKBIC is a £130 million 20,000m² pioneering battery manufacturing development facility, providing the missing link between battery technology, which has proved promising at laboratory or prototype scale, and successful mass production. The facility was opened last year by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson.