Kelpi Appoints New CTO to Accelerate Growth
Sustainable materials innovator Kelpi has a new Chief Technology Officer in a management team reshuffle ahead of further expansion in 2024.
Dr Georgios Gkotsis has been promoted to CTO, taking over from co-founder Professor Chris Chuck, who remains on the Kelpi Board and will stay as a key advisor to the business. Georgios has been Kelpi’s Head of Product Development since February when he joined from another bio-materials innovator Xampla. He brings a range of client-side as well as supply-side experience leading innovation in sustainable packaging. He was previously Disruptive Format Lead in sustainable products and packaging at Unilever.
Georgios will now lead the technology team alongside Chief Scientific Officer Dr Stefanie Federle, who takes on the leading role on IP strategy and regulation alongside her existing role leading on material formulation.
The science team will be further strengthened with the promotion of Dr Ed Jones to Head of Engineering, leading the scale-up capability as Kelpi ramps up piloting throughout 2024. And scientist Julia Maxwell has been promoted to Product Manager to boost project capability as Kelpi wins further global clients in the food & drink and personal care sectors.
The internal promotions come alongside a wave of new recruits which will see the Bristol-based team grow from 13 to 18 in the next three months.
Kelpi CEO Neil Morris said: “I’m very excited to have Georgios’ outstanding skills and expertise join the management team as CTO alongside CSO Stef and Chief Commercial Officer Hugo Adams. This puts us in a tremendously strong position going into 2024 to address the phenomenal opportunity of scaling up our sustainable packaging solutions.
“And I am delighted that co-founder Professor Chris Chuck’s world-leading expertise and experience will be retained in the business - on the Board and as a Strategic Advisor to the management team.”
Dr Georgios Gkotsis said: “I’m really excited to be taking up the lead role on bringing Kelpi’s unique technology to market, working with Stef and building on all that Chris has created here. We have a brilliant team here and are proving the effectiveness of our product by winning a series of global clients.”
Professor Chris Chuck said: “In Georgios and Stef we now have two leaders dedicated to taking Kelpi’s pioneering sustainable materials to the next level. With them leading the way, Ed leading engineering and Julia in a key product role, I am really excited for the year ahead.”