Smartkem, which is seeking to change the world of electronics with a new class of transistor technology, announced that it has appointed Jonathan Watkins as Chief Operating Officer (COO), with responsibility for global operations and strategic partnerships.
Commenting on today’s announcement, CEO Ian Jenks commented, “Jonathan has held strategic, commercial, and operational roles across multi-billion-dollar multinationals, private equity ventures, and high-growth start-ups. He brings a proven track record of scaling global partnerships and manufacturing. As a consultant to Smartkem. Jonathan has already provided significant benefits to our company with his industry knowledge and expertise in commercializing advanced materials manufacturing. I am excited to be working closely with Jonathan in his expanded role at Smartkem.”
Jonathan added, ” I am thrilled to be joining Smartkem as COO at this pivotal time in its evolution and expect to leverage my technical roots in manufacturing, engineering, and breakthrough materials technology to help lead the company to the commercialization of its products. I look forward to helping to drive Smartkem’s commercialization initiatives and operations.”
Jonathan Watkins has over 30 years’ experience commercialising and scaling novel material technologies and working across large multinational companies. He has played pivotal roles in managing complex technical product portfolios and developing global supply chains.
From July 2024 until his appointment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan served as a consultant to the Company. Since September 2024, Jonathan has served as the Executive Chairman of HFQ Technology Associates, a materials technology company. He also has served as the founder and chairman of DITEVEN Limited, a technology consulting services company since November 2015. From August 2016 through June 2024, Jonathan served as the chief executive officer of Impression Technologies Limited (“ITL”), where he led the development, licensing and scaling of a novel aluminum light-weighting technology for automotive, aerospace and consumer electronics markets, as well as securing manufacturing partners in Europe, China and North America. ITL entered voluntary liquidation in June 2024. Prior thereto, he served as an advisor to government agencies on cleantech business models, including commercializing novel technologies. From 2008 to 2015, Jonathan held roles as chief operating officer and commercial director of Ceres Power plc, a leading developer of fuel cell technology having responsibilities for manufacturing, supply chain management and business development.
Jonathan has a Postgraduate Certificate in Design Manufacture, and Management from University of Cambridge and a BEng degree in Materials Science & Technology from University of Birmingham. He is also a Chartered Engineer and holds a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance.
