Cyclic Materials Appoints Former Siemens and Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld to Board of Directors

Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld’s proven leadership at two Fortune 500 public companies will strengthen the company’s global expansion

Cyclic Materials, the rare earth recycling company enabling domestic circular supply chain for critical materials around the world, today announced the appointment of Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Kleinfeld brings decades of experience leading global industrial and advanced manufacturing businesses, including serving as CEO of two Fortune 500 companies – Siemens AG and Alcoa. His experience growing complex international operations, navigating global markets, and leading large industrial transformations will support Cyclic Materials’ industrial expansion to meet an accelerating global demand.

An internationally recognized executive, investor, and entrepreneur, Dr. Kleinfeld has advised multiple U.S. Presidents and global leaders on industrial competitiveness, technology, and economic development.

“Cyclic Materials is scaling a strategically vital solution that diversifies the global supply of critical materials,” said Dr. Kleinfeld. “Establishing resilient supply chains for rare earth elements is becoming increasingly essential to industrial competitiveness and advanced manufacturing. I look forward to actively supporting the company as it scales its technology and global operations.”

From 2008 to 2017, Dr. Kleinfeld served as Chairman and CEO of Alcoa and Arconic. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years at Siemens, ultimately serving as CEO of Siemens AG until 2007. He currently serves as Chairman of KONUX and as a member of the supervisory boards of Brainlab, GreyOrange, and Fero Labs.

“Dr. Kleinfeld has operated at the scale and complexity Cyclic Materials is growing into,” said Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and founder of Cyclic Materials. “His experience leading global industrial organizations, navigating geopolitical complexity, and scaling advanced manufacturing businesses will be highly valuable as we continue expanding our commercial footprint and creating a secure, resilient supply chain for rare earth materials.”

As demand for rare earth elements continues to accelerate and governments increasingly prioritize supply chain security, Cyclic is expanding its footprint globally to support a domestic supply of these critical materials across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Dr. Kleinfeld’s appointment reflects Cyclic Materials’ continued investment in strengthening its governance and industrial operating expertise as the company scales globally. This announcement follows Cyclic’s recent appointment of Roger Zakheim as Strategic Advisor. Mr. Zakheim currently serves as the Washington Director for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, and brings decades of experience in U.S. policy, including serving as General Counsel and Deputy Chief Staff Director of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.

About Cyclic Materials
Cyclic Materials is building a resilient supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical materials through the recycling of magnet-containing end-of-life products. Its innovative technology transforms end-of-life products into valuable raw materials that are essential to automotive, AI, robotics, defense, energy, medical, and other advanced manufacturing. With the success of its commercial demonstration and first shipments of high purity recycled Mixed Rare Earth Oxides (rMREO) to customers, the company is rapidly expanding its cutting-edge technology to commercial scale across North America, Europe and Asia, leveraging its proprietary MagCycle® and REEPure℠ processes to feed strategic industries with a secure supply of rare earths. The company was named Top 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch by MIT Tech Review in 2025. Learn more at cyclicmaterials.earth.

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