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

In todays episode I was joined by Philippe Lavielle, Chairman and CEO of
Fermentalg, a French based biotechnology company creating innovative
ingredients and solutions for the health and nutrition industry.

Philippe discusses how he came across opportunities within industrial
biotechnology in the late 80’s, and how this led to him forming and leading a
Joint Venture, utilising novel technologies to improve the sustainability of the
pulp and paper industry. Philippe talks about joining Genencor, in its early
stages, and his role in creating the culture and impacting on the success of a
high growth biotech company over the following 20 years.  Philippe talks about
his excitement and drive in the mission to revolutionize industries, and the
opportunities he has had to commercialize novel technologies for a healthier
world across the industrial biotechnology space.

Philippe talks about transitioning into a venture backed CEO position, and the
differences and challenges of leading a venture backed business in the San
Francisco bay area. He speaks about his transition back to France, and the
opportunities to lead Fermentalg, evolving the company from a research
foundry to an organization focused on commercializing products across the
nutritional lipids space. He talks about the growth and near term plans to
commercialize alternative protein products, as well as their C02 carbon
capture technology and it’s implications for reducing pollution in busy city
centres.

He reflects on leading Fermentalg on a mission to improve both health and
wellness, with regret that his generation has not done more to combat climate
change.