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ESS Inc. Appoints Claudia Gast to its Board of Directors

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ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) has appointed Claudia Gast to its Board of Directors, enhancing its leadership as the company expands operations globally. With over 15 years of experience in finance and mergers and acquisitions, Gast replaces Shirley Speakman, who is stepping down to focus on early-stage investments. Gast's roles include CFO of Global Technology Acquisition Corp. and co-founder of Greentrail Capital. CEO Eric Dresselhuys emphasized Gast's expertise in scaling companies and international growth, pivotal for ESS's mission in sustainable energy solutions.

Positive
  • Appointment of Claudia Gast to the Board enhances leadership and governance.
  • Claudia Gast's extensive experience in finance and operations supports ESS's growth strategy.
  • Her background in scaling commercial companies may positively impact production and deployment.
Negative
  • Departure of Shirley Speakman may create a gap in continuity and experience.

Private equity and financial expert to help guide company growth; venture investor Shirley Speakman steps down

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ESS Tech, Inc. (“ESS” or the “Company”) (NYSE:GWH), a U.S. manufacturer of long-duration batteries for utility-scale and commercial energy storage applications, announced that Claudia Gast has joined its Board of Directors.

(Photo: Business Wire)

(Photo: Business Wire)

Ms. Gast brings over 15 years of experience leading mergers and acquisitions and an extensive background in finance, strategy and operations both in private equity and with Fortune 100 companies. She currently serves as CFO and Board Member of Global Technology Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:GTAC). She is also the co-founder of Greentrail Capital, a crossover investment firm focused on publicly listed and growth-stage companies, with an emphasis on global technology and consumer organizations.

Prior to her current roles, Ms. Gast served as Chief Strategy Officer and Head of M&A at AM General (a KPS Capital Partners portfolio company), as well as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at GWR Safety Systems (a GHC Capital portfolio company), and as Finance Leader at Procter & Gamble. Ms. Gast holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association.

“I am pleased to join the ESS Board as the company ramps its operations and expands its presence in both domestic and international markets,” said Claudia Gast. “As more organizations prioritize decarbonization, the deployment of sustainable technologies like ESS’s long-duration battery will become central to the energy transition as a safe, reliable and cost-effective energy storage solution. ESS is uniquely well positioned to address these needs.”

“ESS is thrilled to welcome Claudia to our Board,” said Eric Dresselhuys, CEO of ESS. “Claudia brings an exceptional background in finance and operations management across multiple industries – as well as valuable international experience overseeing growth. Her proven leadership experience with fast-scaling commercial companies and hardened industrial products will add relevant depth and expertise to the company’s governance structure as we accelerate production and deployment on a global scale.”

Ms. Gast replaces Shirley Speakman of Cycle Capital, who leaves the ESS Board to return to early-stage company investing. Ms. Speakman joined the Board in 2017, concurrent with the Company’s Series B round of private investment and has served in a variety of roles during that time, most recently as a member of the Audit Committee, having previously chaired the Audit Committee, and having served as a member of the Compensation Committee.

“I’d like to thank Shirley for her many years of service to the ESS Board. Her support and counsel were of great value in the formative years of ESS,” added Mr. Dresselhuys. “We wish Shirley the best in her continued work helping to build the technologies and organizations critical to addressing climate change.”

About ESS Inc.
ESS Inc. (NYSE: GWH) designs, builds and deploys environmentally sustainable, low-cost, iron flow batteries for long-duration commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications requiring from 4 to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity. The Energy Warehouse™ and Energy Center™ use earth-abundant iron, salt, and water for the electrolyte, resulting in an environmentally benign, long-life energy storage solution for the world’s renewable energy infrastructure. Established in 2011, ESS Inc. enables project developers, utilities, and commercial and industrial facility owners to make the transition to more flexible non-lithium-ion storage that is better suited for the grid and the environment. For more information, visit www.essinc.com.

Investors:

Erik Bylin

investors@essinc.com

Media:

Gene Hunt

Trevi Communications, Inc.

978-750-0333 x.101

gene@trevicomm.com

Source: ESS Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of Claudia Gast joining ESS Tech's Board?

Claudia Gast's appointment is significant as she brings extensive experience in finance and operations, which can aid ESS Tech in scaling its production and enhancing its market presence.

Who did Claudia Gast replace on the ESS Tech Board?

Claudia Gast replaced Shirley Speakman, who is stepping down to focus on early-stage investments.

What is Claudia Gast's background before joining ESS Tech?

Claudia Gast has over 15 years of experience in finance and mergers and acquisitions, serving in executive roles at Global Technology Acquisition Corp. and as co-founder of Greentrail Capital.

How might Claudia Gast's appointment affect ESS Tech's future?

Gast's expertise in finance and international growth is expected to positively influence ESS Tech's strategy, particularly as the company aims to expand its operations in sustainable energy.

When did Shirley Speakman join the ESS Tech Board?

Shirley Speakman joined the ESS Tech Board in 2017 during the company's Series B round of private investment.

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