Leaders on a Mission - Philippe Lavielle, Chairman & CEO, Fermentalg, Episode 6

In todays episode I was joined by Philippe Lavielle, Chairman and CEO ofFermentalg, a French based biotechnology company creating innovativeingredients and solutions for the health and nutrition industry.Philippe discusses how he came across opportunities within industrialbiotechnology in the late 80’s, and how this led to him forming and leading aJoint Venture, utilising novel technologies to improve the sustainability of thepulp and paper industry. Philippe talks about joining Genencor, in its earlystages, and his role in creating the culture and impacting on the success of ahigh growth biotech company over the following 20 years.  Philippe talks abouthis excitement and drive in the mission to revolutionize industries, and theopportunities he has had to commercialize novel technologies for a healthierworld across the industrial biotechnology space.Philippe talks about transitioning into a venture backed CEO position, and thedifferences and challenges of leading a venture backed business in the SanFrancisco bay area. He speaks about his transition back to France, and theopportunities to lead Fermentalg, evolving the company from a researchfoundry to an organization focused on commercializing products across thenutritional lipids space. He talks about the growth and near term plans tocommercialize alternative protein products, as well as their C02 carboncapture technology and it’s implications for reducing pollution in busy citycentres.He reflects on leading Fermentalg on a mission to improve both health andwellness, with regret that his generation has not done more to combat climatechange.