Former Toyota and Yamaha Motor executive to lead Phoenix Tailings' strategic growth and partnerships across the Asia Pacific region
BURLINGTON, Mass. — Phoenix Tailings today announced the appointment of George Kellerman as President, Asia Pacific (APAC), where he will lead the company's strategic growth, customer partnerships, government engagement, and regional expansion.
George joins Phoenix Tailings following a career spanning military service and executive leadership across the United States and Asia Pacific. He served in the United States Army Reserve as a Combat Medic before serving on active duty in the United States Air Force as a Firefighter & Rescue Crew Chief, where he was stationed in Japan.
Most recently, George served as Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation. Prior to that, he founded and built Woven Capital, Toyota's $1.6 billion growth-stage venture investment arm, and the corporate development function at Woven by Toyota, where he established the company's strategy for partnerships, investments, and acquisitions. Earlier in his career, George served as Chief Executive Officer of Yamaha Motor Ventures and led business development at Dell Technologies and Yahoo! Japan. His military service and decades of leadership across the region uniquely position him to help Phoenix Tailings build the strategic partnerships essential to creating a resilient allied rare earth supply chain.
The appointment reflects Phoenix Tailings' long term vision to make the United States the global center of allied rare earth processing. Achieving that vision requires an integrated supply chain built with America's allies. Australia and Malaysia provide critical rare earth resources and feedstocks, while Japan and South Korea represent some of the world's largest markets for permanent magnets and advanced manufacturing. Through the Freedom Facility, Phoenix Tailings is establishing commercial scale separation, refining, and metallization capacity in the United States that connects these allied capabilities, ensuring each partner can contribute where it is strongest while benefiting from a secure, resilient supply chain.
"The Asia Pacific region remains central to the global rare earth supply chain," said Nicholas Myers, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Tailings. "Japan and South Korea are home to many of the world's leading manufacturers of advanced technologies, while Australia and Malaysia hold critical rare earth resources and feedstocks. Recent supply disruptions have reinforced the importance of trusted partnerships among allied nations. The United States has an opportunity to become the world's leading center for rare earth processing,creating a more secure and resilient supply chain that benefits our allies around the world. George is the absolute right person to lead that effort, and together with our team, we are going to make an impact.”
As President, Asia Pacific, George will lead strategic partnerships, commercial development, and government engagement throughout the region, working closely with manufacturers, governments, and strategic partners to strengthen allied supply chains for critical minerals.
"I have always devoted myself to work that will create the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and Phoenix Tailings represents a unique opportunity for me to address one of the most important challenges facing the United States and its allies: building a secure, sustainable supply of critical rare earth materials,” said George Kellerman, President, Asia Pacific, Phoenix Tailings. “I am honored to join such a passionate and dedicated team where I can make a positive difference in the world."
To learn more about Phoenix Tailings, visit https://phoenixtailings.com/.
About Phoenix Tailings
Phoenix Tailings is building the world's most advanced rare earth and critical minerals manufacturing platform. The company combines breakthrough chemistry, industrial hardware, and digital infrastructure to produce the materials that power modern technology. By rebuilding domestic separation, refining, and metal production capabilities, Phoenix Tailings is strengthening America's industrial base, securing critical supply chains, and accelerating the future of advanced manufacturing.
Contact: press@phoenixtailings.com