DTE appoints veteran CEO Jakob Asmundsson to ignite bold new growth phase

Icelandic metals analysis pioneer DTE has appointed Jakob Asmundsson as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), marking a pivotal step in the company’s growth journey. A seasoned executive with a proven track record of transformative leadership, Asmundsson will steer DTE’s strategy as it scales up operations to become an integral partner to the aluminium industry.

With DTE set to expand into new markets, Asmundsson will leverage his success in guiding businesses through major growth phases to cement the company’s position as the leading industry supplier of real-time molten metal analysis. Drawing on his past experience, he will focus on optimising DTE’s operational performance and resources to meet the company’s ambitious growth targets. Meanwhile, Asmundsson will bolster DTE’s product offerings by ensuring the next generation of its technology becomes indispensable for an aluminium industry striving to decarbonise and effectively reuse scrap to enable the industry to achieve ambitious sustainability objectives.

While Asmundsson steers day-to-day operations and drives the company’s scaling efforts, co-founder and former CEO Karl Ágúst Matthíasson will transition into the role of Director of Strategy and Growth. Collaborating closely with Asmundsson on fundraising and partnerships, Matthíasson will also support high-impact sales initiatives. Although stepping back from his CEO role, Matthíasson’s deep industry expertise and wide-reaching network will remain instrumental in guiding DTE’s strategic direction and fuelling future expansion.

Karl Ágúst Matthíasson, DTE co-founder, expressed his confidence in the leadership transition: “Jakob’s arrival gives DTE the momentum it needs to become the leading innovator in metals analysis,” he said. “This marks an exciting new phase in DTE’s growth, and contributing to its journey so far has been incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to continue playing a key role in advancing our mission and working alongside Jakob to drive the company’s next chapter of success.”

Asmundsson’s appointment further fortifies DTE’s leadership team following the recruitment of Auður Árnadóttir as CFO in December. By combining top-tier financial oversight with Asmundsson’s ability to scale established enterprises, DTE is now poised to accelerate its Series B funding efforts. This arrangement ensures the company has both the financial acumen and operational leadership it needs to secure new investments.

“I’m excited to begin this year at DTE,” said Asmundsson. “DTE´s achievements in the aluminium industry are remarkable, and I'm honoured to lead the company as it enters this exciting growth phase. By refining our offerings and scaling our reach, we will ensure DTE´s technology becomes essential for aluminum producers navigating the industry’s most pressing  challenges. I look forward to working with the talented team here to build on the strong foundations already in place.”

Since it was set up in 2013, DTE has been at the forefront of digital transformation in the aluminium industry, making production safer, more cost efficient and less energy intensive. Using its proprietary Liquid-Phase Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LP-LIBS™) technology, DTE delivers real-time chemical analysis of molten metal. DTE’s technology seamlessly integrates into the DTE platform, delivering real-time chemical analysis and impurity detection. The platform empowers users with comprehensive analytics and real-time data visibility, enabling producers to make instantaneous, informed decisions to optimize energy use, improve scrap utilization, and enhance safety through automated sampling.