#United States #desalination technology #AquaFortus #Hoshang Subawalla #Hobbs

AquaFortus' Strategic Expansion

In a bold move to reshape the water treatment industry, AquaFortus, known for its cutting-edge non-thermal brine concentration technology, has announced that Dr. Hoshang Subawalla will take the helm as the new CEO. This appointment marks a pivotal shift for the company as it transitions from technology validation to focusing on building and operating substantial infrastructure projects in sectors such as oil and gas produced water treatment, mining, and hypersaline industrial wastewater across a broad international landscape.

Leadership Transition and Vision
Dr. Subawalla, a distinguished PhD Chemical Engineer, brings a wealth of experience from over two decades with industry leaders such as GE, Suez, and Veolia. His dual expertise in scientific research and executive operations positions him advantageously to lead AquaFortus into the next phase of its growth trajectory. This transition not only aligns with the company’s core values but also emphasizes its commitment to building large-scale solutions that redefine the market.

Earl Jones, Operating Partner at DCVC and Executive Chair of AquaFortus, highlighted, "Hoshang is exactly the leader we need for the future path of AquaFortus. While we will maintain our identity as a chemistry-centric company, our focus has shifted towards developing major infrastructure. His extensive experience and results-oriented leadership significantly enhance our capabilities."

Dr. Subawalla expressed his enthusiasm about the role, stating, "AquaFortus has introduced a transformative approach to brine concentration—offering a cost advantage of up to 70% over traditional methods. Our innovative non-thermal crystallizer allows us to not only improve existing processes but to dramatically change the economic landscape of desalinating wastewater. I am thrilled to lead such a talented team as we deploy our groundbreaking technologies on a large scale, turning what were once costly liabilities into valuable water resources."

Bolstering the Executive Team
In response to the increased demand for infrastructure expansion, AquaFortus has also appointed Iris Jancik as the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Dave Allworth as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Jancik, a veteran leader in the desalination field, previously served as CEO of IBAT and IDE Americas. She is expected to leverage her deep commercial knowledge to build strategic partnerships for the development of multi-million dollar water assets.

Meanwhile, Allworth, who has dedicated his career to water and environmental solutions, introduces his expertise in project financing and business models geared for high-growth infrastructure. Both appointments are fundamental as AquaFortus gears up to broaden its global footprint.

Following this executive transition, previous CEO Jim Newman will focus solely on one of the company’s pivotal strategic areas, OG Produced Water. Under his leadership, AquaFortus achieved significant technical milestones, laying the groundwork for this exciting expansion.

Earl Jones expressed gratitude towards Newman: "We owe a tremendous debt to Jim for his relentless efforts that positioned AquaFortus to pursue this significant opportunity. Focusing on the Permian Basin and OG sector is crucial as we aim to alleviate pressing industry challenges regarding disposal constraints."

About AquaFortus
AquaFortus is a leading company recognized as a 2026 Global Cleantech 100 entity, offering an efficient brine concentration technology designed to recover clean water and valuable minerals from hypersaline streams. Its proprietary ABX™ platform employs a non-thermal, non-membrane process using safe, non-toxic absorbents and food-grade regenerants, allowing for a sustainable production of high-quality water for beneficial reuse. With a strong commitment to the oil, gas, mining, and energy markets, AquaFortus is redefining water treatment with the least energetic footprint and significantly lower costs than conventional desalination methods.

As AquaFortus embarks on this new journey, the team’s collective expertise and innovative spirit promise not only to advance the company’s mission but to foster a sustainable future in water resource management around the globe.