Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development

Mr. Bender was appointed to his current role in August 2025 and is responsible for leading the Company’s rare earths initiatives as well as overseeing the Company’s strategy and corporate development initiatives. Prior to such role, Mr. Bender was Vice President and General Manager, Rare Earths since October 2023. He has more than 25 years of experience in the chemical and TiO₂ industries, including eight years with Tronox in process engineering, strategic sourcing, strategic planning, corporate strategy, and M&A. His prior experience also includes TZMI, the leading industry consultancy in the titanium and zircon value chains, and leadership roles at Eastman Chemical and Momentive in business development and corporate strategy. Mr. Bender holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Mississippi State University.