X-energy's Founder Dr. Kam Ghaffarian announced that he has appointed J. Clay Sell as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective January 21, 2019. Dr. Ghaffarian assumes the role of Executive Chairman and Harlan Bowers will continue to serve as President.

Dr. Ghaffarian stated, "As we find ourselves in a great energy race with global competitors, this is the perfect time for Clay to become X-energy's next CEO. Clay's decades of experience in Washington D.C., his ability to translate a corporate strategy into clear objectives, and his history of accomplishment make him the right leader to quickly move the company forward towards deployment and reclaim our global nuclear energy leadership position."

"X-energy has made tremendous progress with its reactor designs and TRISO fuel manufacturing business in recent years and has emerged as a leading U.S. advanced nuclear technology company," said Sell. "This is a credit to the company's founder and the outstanding team of individuals he has attracted.

"I am thrilled to join X-energy at this consequential period in its history. So many things in my life have prepared me for this opportunity today with X-energy. We will build upon the successes of our first 10 years as we pursue our goal to be the first advanced reactor and HALEU TRISO fuel manufacturer deployed to the market."

Sell served as Deputy Secretary at Energy from 2005-2008, as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush in the White House from 2003-2004, and prior to this held senior staff positions at the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House of Representatives. From 2008 to 2018, he was the President of Hunt Energy Horizons, LLC, the renewable energy subsidiary of the global energy conglomerate Hunt Consolidated, Inc. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law and a BBA in Accounting from Texas Tech University.

About X-energy 

X-energy is an advanced nuclear reactor design and TRISO-based fuel fabrication company. Our high temperature gas-cooled pebble bed reactors require less time to construct, use factory-produced components, cannot melt down, and are "walk-away" safe without operator intervention. In concert with our reactor designs, X-energy is actively producing TRISO-based fuel forms and is implementing pilot scale manufacturing capacities. Twitter: @xenergynuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/xenergynuclear, www.x-energy.com