Ellen Lenny-Pessagno Email & Phone Number

Charlotte, Nc, Us

Charlotte, Nc, Us

• Transformed the external affairs team into a global powerhouse by hiring VPs and country managers in China, Australia, Chile, and the EU, creating SOPs and processes, and was recognized for building a high-performing team that effectively supported the company’s growing footprint.• As part of the Energy Storage Leadership team, developed external affairs and sustainability strategies, securing Chinese government approval for a Li Conversion facility, influencing EU regulations on lithium chemical classification, and obtaining social and governmental licenses to operate in Australia, Chile, and the US.• Spearheaded the company's $310M in DOE and DOD grant funding for U.S. projects in NC and SC, far exceeding the previous $5M award, and secured $450M in state, county, and city incentives for the same projects.• Developed and implemented sustainability strategies for the Energy Storage division, negotiating commitments with leading automotive OEMs that positioned Albemarle as a preferred partner.• Led Albemarle to become the first lithium mine site globally, and the third mine site overall, to complete the IRMA audit, mitigating operational risks for employees, local communities, and the environment, while strengthening relationships with customers, governments, and NGOs.• Led the Kings Mountain North Carolina Community Relations team in fostering dialogue, transparency, and shared benefits, resulting in strong community support for mine permitting and development.

Charlotte, Nc, Us

• Country Manager for the largest lithium mine and battery grade conversion facility globally. • Integral member of the Lithium Division’s corporate leadership team, guiding the development of the corporate strategy focused on operational excellence and rapid growth to meet a fourfold increase in demand. • Led the strategy, engagement and negotiation with the Chilean government to avoid arbitration and revocation of Albemarle’s contract to extract lithium, building visibility and support for the company within the government, community, and other stakeholders to ensure future operations in Chile.• Developed and cultivated relationships with Indigenous communities and collaborated to share the results of their projects funded by 3.5% of ALB sales through joint presentations in conferences and videos. • Utilized values-based management to transform the culture and position the company as a premier partner for the state of Chile, establishing strong collaboration with the Chile leadership team to support problem-solving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring workers remained safe, team members working from home were highly engaged and operations and new plant construction continued uninterrupted. • Led the environmental team to review environmental permit to uncover potential operational efficiencies and to establish dialogue and transparency with environmental officials resulting in a new interpretation of brine pumping limits, resulting in an annual 10% production increase. • Led internal analysis of mining standards, convincing organization to align with most comprehensive standard, IRMA, requiring company to enhance processes and increase transparency, leading to the company becoming the 1st lithium company to complete self-assessment and third-party audit.

Vitacura, Santiago, Cl

Washington, Dc, Us

• Performed as a career commercial diplomat for the United States for 20+ years, developing and cultivating relationships with various governments and agencies to drive policy and regulatory changes to increase bilateral trade, develop commercial strategies and programs to promote US exports, advocate for various American companies’ investments, as well as developed roadmaps and strategies to overcome obstacles. • Led Commercial Policy and Programs for Colombia, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, and Bolivia.• Supported pharmaceutical industry to avoid expansion of price ceilings.• Advocated for U.S. companies in key projects with Colombian and Peruvian governments.

Washington, Dc, Us

• Developed a strategy for a lithium mining company to triple brine extraction, while educating government officials on the project's benefits and overcoming community issues that threatened the company’s ability to operate.• Organized a Renewable Energy Business Policy mission, facilitating dialogues with 3 ministers and a roundtable with mining companies and bankers, resulting in U.S. companies developing the largest solar power plants in Latin America and increasing renewable energy’s share from 1% to 10% in the energy matrix from 2012 to 2016.• Delivered consulting services to U.S. companies at 3X the global average and led the largest trade mission in U.S. Embassy Chile history, with over 100 U.S. companies participating in a 2-day conference and business matchmaking event.

Washington, Dc, Us

• Developed a strategy that allowed U.S. companies to gain substantial footholds in the competitive Spanish renewable energy market.• Led a multi-country coalition of diplomats and industry leaders, successfully persuading the Spanish government to reduce, rather than eliminate, guaranteed feed-in tariffs for renewable energy, preventing potential plant closures.• Recognized by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry for negotiating a deal with the Spanish government to lower pharmaceutical prices without affecting prices in 20 other markets.• Received the Director General Award for creating an online platform to connect Spanish investors with U.S. service providers.

Washington, Dc, Us

• Developed programs to educate U.S. companies on how to export to large industrial markets in Northern Mexico.

Washington, Dc, Us

• Directed the promotion of U.S. exports and investments in northern Mexico, facilitating export of over $50B in U.S. products and services annually.• Developed and led the Marketing to Manufacturers in Mexico Initiative, connecting hundreds of small and medium-sized U.S. companies with the Mexican industrial sector through webinars featuring purchasing managers and participation in trade shows and missions.• Spearheaded trade missions and industry events that significantly increased U.S. business engagement in Mexico’s industrial market, fostering long-term partnerships between U.S. companies and Mexican manufacturers.

Washington, Dc, Us

• Assembled a team of bankers during the 2001-2002 financial crisis to interpret frequent changes in Argentina's currency regulations, enabling U.S. exporters to stay informed and improve their chances of collecting debts.• Organized strategic meetings between Argentine ministers and U.S. industry representatives when Argentina converted dollar assets and debts to pesos, helping to develop solutions to mitigate bankruptcy risks.• Facilitated financing for mining projects through EXIM Bank support and received the Innovation Award for creating new market research products, as well as the Bronze Medal for advancing e-commerce in the Western Hemisphere.

Washington, Dc, Us

• Managed commercial offices in Embassies, drove 15% in cost reductions.• Lead on 3 Commerce Secretary trips to region, including identifying top issues and key meetings. • Organized trade missions internationally and lead on developing SME panel for Western Hemisphere Business Dialogue.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Business Administration

Master Of Arts - Ma, International Commerce And Policy

Executive Management Program, Business/Commerce, General