Last Update: 13.10.2026
 

Munich, October 13, 2026 tozero, a German deep-tech company pioneering the recovery of critical raw materials from lithium-ion battery waste, today announces the appointment of Mark Bula as incoming Co-Chief Executive Officer, joining founder and Co-CEO Dr. Ksenija Neumann as the company accelerates its transition from technology development to industrial commercialization and global expansion.

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Mark brings more than 35 years of international leadership experience across the steel, mining and metals industries, including the development, financing, commercialization and scale-up of capital-intensive industrial operations in North America, Europe and the Middle East.
 

In his new role, Mark will focus on industrial commercialization, strategic partnerships and international expansion, while working alongside Ksenija and the wider leadership team on tozero’s growth strategy and next financing. The financing is intended to support continued technology development, industrial scale-up and the commercial transition of its first-of-a-kind (FOAK) demonstration plant in the chemical park Gendorf, Germany required for the company's next phase of growth.
 

"Mark brings exactly the kind of industrial experience we need for the next chapter of tozero," said Dr. Ksenija Neumann, founder and Co-CEO of tozero. "We have built a strong technological foundation and demonstrated our ability to recover valuable critical materials from battery waste. Our next challenge is to translate that innovation into a scalable industrial business. Mark's experience building companies, developing commercial markets and bringing major industrial projects to life will help us accelerate that journey. Together, we bring complementary strengths in technology, industrial execution and commercial development."
 

Mark has held senior executive positions across several major industrial ventures, including serving as a founding executive and Chief Commercial Officer of Big River Steel in Arkansas, one of the most technologically advanced steelmaking facilities developed in the United States. His career also includes leadership roles in the development and scale-up of SeverCorr, now Steel Dynamics Columbus, and a major steelmaking venture in Oman.

Most recently, Mark served as CEO of Blastr Green Steel, leading the development of an integrated low-carbon steelmaking platform in Europe. His experience spans international project development, industrial investment, commercial strategy, customer contracting and the financing of large-scale industrial ventures.
 

"I am excited to bring my experience in global industrial scale-up, mining and metals to a company with the technology and ambition to make a meaningful contribution to the industrial economy," said Mark. "Throughout my career, I have focused on turning ambitious industrial concepts into commercially viable businesses. Ksenija and the team have developed something special, and I see a significant opportunity to build on that foundation. Our focus now is to move with speed and discipline, establish the right commercial partnerships and accelerate international expansion. The opportunity to recover critical minerals from materials already in circulation is compelling, both economically and strategically. tozero plays a pivotal role in establishing European sovereignty over critical raw materials as we are preparing for international expansion, including North America "

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About tozero:

Founded in 2022, tozero is a Munich-based deep-tech startup building Europe’s first industrial infrastructure for lithium-ion battery recycling. Its proprietary process enables the recovery of high-purity materials such as lithium, and graphite, reintegrating them into the supply chain to enable new battery production. By closing the loop, tozero is driving Europe’s independence from raw material imports and setting new standards for a resilient and competitive industry. Validated by successful industrial pilots with partners including BMW and MAN, the company has raised €17M from investors including NordicNinja, Atlantic Labs, Honda, IQT and JGC Group. 

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tozero GmbH | Rosa-Bavarese-Str. 3 | 80639 Munich​

Email: hello@tozero.solutions