(Reuters) -Albemarle, the world's largest producer of lithium for rechargeable batteries, said on Monday that Chief Operating Officer Netha Johnson will leave the company.

Albemarle did not provide a timeline for Johnson's exit. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the reason for his departure.

Johnson first joined the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company in 2018. He sits on the board of electric utility Xcel Energy and previously worked at 3M.

He will be replaced as operating chief by Mark Mummert, who has been at the company since 2019, and most recently oversaw supply chain logistics.

Albemarle earlier this month posted a surprise second-quarter profit helped by sustained demand for the battery metal.