Aqua Metals Announces Appointment of Judd Merrill, CPA as Chief Financial Officer
MCCARRAN, Nev., Nov. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQMS) (“Aqua Metals” or the “Company”), which is reinventing lead recycling with its AquaRefining™ technology, today announced the appointment of Judd Merrill, CPA, MBA as Chief Financial Officer, effective November 5, 2018. Merrill, based in Reno, NV, will report to President Steve Cotton and brings proven skills in SEC compliance and reporting, cash management, budgeting, forecasting, inventory management, due diligence, M&A and project management.
“I’m pleased to welcome Judd, an accomplished financial executive with over 15 years of public company experience and strategy development within entrepreneurial environments to Aqua Metals,” said Steve Cotton, President. “Judd is a proven leader and, just as importantly, a team player that integrates well with our new culture. Judd also possesses a demonstrated modern approach to the financial and accounting function and is well equipped to help guide the Company through its strategic transformation from commercialization of our first AquaRefinery to a capital light expansion model of deploying AquaRefining with our existing and prospective partners. I am confident that he will play a key role in our growth and my management team and board unanimously look forward to working with Judd to deliver on both our current and our long-term financial and strategic objectives.”
“I’m excited to join Aqua Metals as it seeks to optimize economics, scale production and further commercialize its innovative AquaRefining technology on the global stage,” stated Merrill. “I look forward to drawing on my background in mining and metals and working with Steve and the entire Aqua Metals team to achieve results for our shareholders."
Merrill joins Aqua Metals from Klondex Mines Ltd., a Nevada based international mining company where he was Director of Finance/Accounting. Before its acquisition earlier this year by Hecla, Klondex was a $500 million dollar company traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Prior to joining Klondex, Merrill spent five years as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Comstock Mining Inc., a publicly traded gold company in Nevada where he was instrumental in establishing financial modeling and analytics, driving efficiencies, and negotiating with vendors to conserve funds and manage liquidity. He worked directly with bankers, lenders, investment funds and major shareholders related to the company’s fund raising and capital management activities. Merrill also worked as a controller at Fronteer Gold Inc. and as an assistant controller at Newmont Mining Corp., where he developed strong financial planning, treasury and cash management experience in the mining sector. Merrill began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP and spent six years working in broader financial accounting, reporting and internal controls while managing corporate financial activities.
Merrill holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Central Washington University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a certified public accountant.
Mr. Merrill replaces Frank Knuettel II, who left the Company in August 2018.
About Aqua Metals
Aqua Metals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQMS) is reinventing lead recycling with its patented AquaRefining™ technology. Unlike smelting, AquaRefining is a room temperature, water-based process that emits less pollution. The modular systems are intended to allow the Company to vastly reduce environmental impact and scale lead acid recycling production capacity by licensing the AquaRefining technology to partners. This would meet growing demand for lead to power new applications including stop/start automobile batteries which complement the vehicle’s main battery, Internet data centers, alternative energy applications including solar, wind, and grid scale storage. Aqua Metals is based in Alameda, California, and has built its first recycling facility in Nevada’s Tahoe Reno Industrial Complex. To learn more, please visit .
Contact: Alison Ziegler, Darrow Associates (201) 220-2678
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
