Maria åstrand
About Maria åstrand
Maria Åstrand serves as the Vice President of Cathode Materials at Northvolt, bringing over 16 years of experience from various roles at Sandvik Coromant and leadership positions in the materials sector. She holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Materials Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University, respectively.
Current Role at Northvolt
Maria Åstrand serves as Vice President of Cathode Materials at Northvolt since 2021. In this role, she leads the business unit responsible for Cathode Active Material. Her tenure at Northvolt follows her previous position as Managing Director of Raw Materials from 2019 to 2021. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, she focuses on advancing the company's initiatives in sustainable battery production.
Previous Experience at Sandvik
Maria Åstrand worked for 16 years at Sandvik Coromant, holding various positions that included product and material development in R&D and managerial roles. Her positions ranged from Development Engineer from 2000 to 2007 to Production Manager Insert Manufacturing from 2013 to 2016. She also served as Technical Manager and Department Manager for Innovation during her time at Sandvik, contributing to multiple projects in manufacturing and innovation.
Leadership at Swerea KIMAB
Maria Åstrand served as Managing Director for Swerea KIMAB from 2016 to 2018. This research institute specializes in material and process development, where she applied her expertise in materials science to lead initiatives that support innovation and research in the field.
Educational Background
Maria Åstrand studied at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, where she earned her MSc in Materials Science from 1991 to 1995. She furthered her education at Uppsala University, completing her PhD in Material Science from 1995 to 2000. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her extensive career in materials development and engineering.
Personal Strengths and Leadership Style
Maria Åstrand is recognized for her enthusiasm and empowering leadership style. She emphasizes strategic thinking and the importance of fostering well-functioning teams driven by clear objectives. Her approach focuses on driving improvement and encouraging employee empowerment within her teams.