Benoît Grenot is to take over as chief executive officer of French biorecycling technology company Carbios in June. Mr Grenot has served as deputy CEO alongside chief executive Vincent Kamel since the spring and is now set to succeed him at the helm of the company. Mr Kamel will step down at the end of May at the age of 64, having expressed his wish to retire, Carbios reported yesterday.
Board chair Isabelle Parize thanked Mr Kamel for his commitment and work. "His leadership enabled significant progress, notably the signing of a strategic partnership with Wankai New Materials, major advances in the Longlaville plant construction project, as well as rigorous management of the company’s operating expenses," Ms Parize said. She added that Mr Grenot’s international experience, particularly in China, and his leadership would be key assets in implementing the company’s strategic priorities.
Carbios, which has developed an enzymatic depolymerisation process for PET and polyester, has struggled to secure financing for its planned first commercial-scale recycling plant in Longlaville, France.
In addition, the company has been facing legal disputes. Following the departure of co-founder and former CEO Philippe Pouletty, two legal actions had been initiated against Carbios and its management, the company reported in March. One action concerns the remuneration of the chair and the chief executive. Through the second, the claimant seeks to gain access to certain company documents. Carbios maintains that the allegations raised in connection with the litigation are unfounded.
