On the Move – Haldor Topsoe, Licella, Calyxt, ACE, Amyris, DMC, and others

It’s only the second month of 2022, but there are already many people on the move from some of The Digest’s Hot 50 companies and leading biofuels and biotech organizations. From a new Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, the shifting of Ron Lamberty’s role from SVP and Market Development Director to Chief Marketing Officer at the American Coalition for Ethanol, Licella’s new Managing Director, Calyxt’s new SVP of Business Development, a newly appointed Board of Directors at Amyris, DMC Biotechnologies’ new CFO, and more big moves, it’s an exciting time to work in the bioeconomy.

If you have an “On the Move” for us to cover, please contact Helena Kennedy at [email protected].

Topsoe appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

Topsoe appointed Elena Scaltritti as new Chief Commercial Officer. She takes on her new position no later than July 1, 2022. Elena Scaltritti comes from a similar position as Executive Vice President at SONGWON Industrial Group (SONGWON), where she is responsible for the group’s commercial activities.

“I’m excited and very much looking forward to work with Elena. She has solid chemical industry experience and a strong commercial background. With Elena’s hands on experience of driving growth, working with commercial excellence, key account management, and pricing, she can secure our leading position in existing markets and help us accelerate Topsoe’s position in the green energy market,” says Roeland Baan, CEO at Topsoe.

At SONGWON, based in Switzerland, Elena Scaltritti has held various positions since joining in 2011. She holds a BSc in Organic Chemistry from University of Milan and an MBA from MIB Business Scholl Politecnico in Milan.

DMC appoints Ashley Jenkins as CFO

DMC Biotechnologies has appointed Ashley Jenkins as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ashley joins DMC from Felix Energy where she has worked since 2013. Ashley joins DMC’s Boulder, Colorado office.

Ashley Jenkins has significant strategic experience in the oil and gas industry with Felix Energy and Double Eagle Petroleum Co as well as with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in Philadelphia and Denver. Ashley was VP, Controller at Felix Energy and CFO of the subsidiary Felix Water. She participated in the successful sale of over $6.0 billion in upstream, midstream and mineral assets. She was involved in corporate structure and strategy and financing facilities with loans of up to $1.5 billion.

ACE makes staff changes in 2022: Hires Communications Manager, appoints Lamberty as Chief Marketing Officer

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) announces staff changes at the organization’s office in Sioux Falls, including the hiring of Ashley Borchert, former Digital Marketing and Social Media intern at Midcontinent Communications (Midco), to serve as Communications Manager, and the shifting of Ron Lamberty’s role from Senior Vice President and Market Development Director to Chief Marketing Officer  (CMO).

Borchert joins the organization this year after former Communications Director Katie Muckenhirn took on the role as ACE’s Vice President of Public Affairs last fall. Borchert manages ACE’s communications department and supports its member services. She handles the organization’s social media platforms, assists with media and member relations, along with other communication activities, including ACE websites, Ethanol Today magazine, and events and advocacy efforts.

Borchert grew up in rural Minnesota and joins the ACE staff after graduating from Augustana University with B.A.s in Communications and Media Studies, as well as completing a Digital Marketing and Social Media internship with Midco.

Additionally, ACE’s longtime employee Ron Lamberty is shifting his role to serve as the organization’s Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for the planning and implementation of ACE’s market development and member relations efforts. As CMO, he’ll continue leading ethanol business development in the fuel marketing sector and build strategic relationships with current and prospective ACE members.

“Ethanol plant product offerings are constantly evolving in response to emerging market opportunities,” Lamberty said. “With these growing market possibilities, ACE has the experience to help communicate product benefits, identify and educate potential buyers, and ensure public policy provides access and a level playing field for our members’ products. As CMO, I’ll make sure we’re doing all we can to continue to expand markets for ethanol and other products for our members.”

Licella welcomes Alan Nicholl as Managing Director

Licella Holdings Limited appointed Alan Nicholl to the role of Managing Director, effective 1 April 2022. As Managing Director, Alan will report to Len Humphreys, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Licella.

The timing of the appointment corresponds with a pivotal time for Licella as it accelerates the commercialisation of its pioneering Cat-HTR platform around the world.

Alan joins Licella from Canfor, a global leader in the manufacturing of sustainable forest products, where he has held multiple senior executive positions across the Canfor group since 2011. Alan served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Canfor and Canfor Pulp for much of that time, and for the last four years he was also the Executive Vice President, Canfor Pulp operations. More recently, Alan assumed the role of Executive Vice President Bio Based Solutions.

In the mid-term, Alan will also continue in his role as President and CEO of Arbios Biotech, Licella’s Joint Venture with Canfor. A strong advocate for a lower carbon future, Alan will continue to lead Arbios towards its first commercial plant in Prince George, BC, Canada (currently scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2023) and as it builds its pipeline of projects across North and South America, and Europe.

Waste to commodities company, Veransa, hires new President and Chief Operating Officer

Veransa Group, Inc., a leader in transforming green waste into valuable commodities on an industrial scale through vertical integration of waste collection centers and manufacturing facilities, hired Kevin Dunlap as President and Chief Operating Officer. Dunlap will be integral in Veransa’s rapid growth by driving best practices across the company’s operations, managing integrations of acquisitions and greenfield locations, as well as overseeing the development of compost and other sustainable, beneficial reuse, products.

Dunlap brings 28 years of experience in the environmental services industry, including 17+ years of executive operational leadership in high-growth businesses. Before joining Veransa, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Denali Water Solutions, a leading diversified environmental services company focused on wastewater, water residuals and biosolids products and services, including composting and green waste recycling.

Calyxt Announces Gerry Nuovo as Senior Vice President of Business Development

Calyxt, Inc., a plant-based synthetic biotechnology company, announced that Gerry Nuovo has joined Calyxt as Senior Vice President of Business Development. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the specialty chemicals and biotechnology industries and diverse experience building multimillion-dollar income streams in the personal care and home care markets. Mr. Nuovo will be responsible for business development functions, including potential partnerships, deal structures, valuation models, and subsequent transaction execution and alliance management.

Darling Ingredients Vice President, Investor Relations, Sustainability and Global Communications Melissa Gaither to retire; Suann Guthrie to succeed Gaither

Darling Ingredients Inc., the world’s leading company turning food waste into sustainable products and producer of renewable energy, announced Melissa Gaither, Vice President, Investor Relations, Sustainability and Global Communications, will retire effective April 29 after more than 33 years of dedicated service. Suann Guthrie has been named to succeed Ms. Gaither, effective Jan. 31.

Ms. Gaither began her career at Darling as a commodity trader in 1989. She served in a number of leadership roles including, Purchasing, Investor Relations, Sustainability and Global Communications.

Reporting to Stuewe, Ms. Guthrie will be responsible for leading Darling’s investor relations and communications strategy as well as overseeing the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Ms. Guthrie brings more than 20 years of leadership across strategy development, media and investor relations, public and government affairs, corporate communications, crisis management and ESG. She joins Darling most recently as a communications executive from the tech industry. She began her career at BNSF Railway, which spanned several communications roles. She then spent eight years at ExxonMobil where she was head of global public and government affairs for unconventional oil and gas development.

Amyris announces appointment of Ana Dutra to Board of Directors

Amyris, Inc., a leading synthetic biotechnology company accelerating the world to sustainable consumption through its Lab-to-Market operating platform, announced the appointment of Ms. Ana Dutra as its newest independent member of the Amyris Board of Directors, effective January 21, 2022.

Ms. Dutra is an experienced CEO, business advisor and corporate board director of publicly traded, private, and family-owned corporations, and non-profit organizations. She is a Latina leader with over 30 years of experience in P&L management, deal structuring, digital technology, business growth and C-Level business advisory in over 25 countries. Ana is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. She has deep experience in ESG, digital technology, e-commerce, ERP systems and has a CERT Certification in Cybersecurity Oversight by Carnegie Mellon University and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

As a CEO, Ana Dutra has led several global and cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership agreements and M&A integrations. In her own tenure as CEO and P&L leader with companies such as IBM, CSC, Marsh & McLennan, Accenture and Korn/ Ferry International, Ms. Dutra created several $500+ million global businesses through the combination of organic growth, global acquisitions and joint ventures, innovative go-to-market approaches and incorporation of technology and digital transformation of services and products.

Ulrich Hörnke joins the QUANTRON AG management team as CFO

Ulrich Hörnke becomes Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Quantron AG. Quantron AG is a system provider of clean battery and hydrogen-powered e-mobility for commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses and vans. Hörnke brings 30 years of international experience with well-known companies such as Mercedes Benz and Fiat Chrysler as well as electric car startups to the e-mobility specialist. Hörnke has global experience in Europe, Asia, China and the US and will actively shape access to international capital markets.