John Kirkpatrick, Urenco USA’s managing director, is stepping down from his position in the fall, Urenco USA said Thursday in announcing several management changes.
Kirkpatrick has been with Urenco USA since 2024. According to the company’s press release, With his departure, the company has appointed Jody Blackshear, its current enrichment director at Urenco’s uranium enrichment plant in the United Kingdom, as its newest managing director.
Blackshear’s appointment will become effective on Oct. 1, according to Urenco USA’s press release. While Blackshear has been at the UK facility since 2023, he previously started his time with Urenco at the New Mexico uranium enrichment facility in 2010.
In addition to the transition at the managing director position, Urenco USA appointed Melissa Foster to become the company’s investment program director, which is a newly created position. In this role, she will lead Urenco USA through its recently proposed expansion plans at the National Enrichment Facility in Eunice, N.M.