PEOPLE ON THE MOVE - May 2021

Industry Movers: Seaweed & Co, Beneo, Pharmactive & OptiBiotix

By Will Chu

- Last updated on GMT

Industry Movers: Seaweed & Co, Beneo, Pharmactive & OptiBiotix

Related tags Seaweed Beneo Pharmactive Optibiotix

May 2021 and with signs that things are getting back to normal, thoughts turn to fresh starts and new opportunities. Great minds think alike as NutraIngredients rounds up those who have taken the plunge in April.

Seaweed & Co announces that Mario Patrocollo has joined the firm as its new Non-Executive Director & Chairman of the Board.

“We are delighted to welcome Mario to the team at a time when we are expanding into new product sectors and geographies,”​ says Founder and MD of Seaweed & Co., Dr Craig Rose.

“His experience in pharmaceuticals, OTC and FMCG not only with multi-nationals at the highest strategic level but also with fast growing start-up challenger companies, will help us take advantage of the huge potential for seaweed in general and our unique set-up in particular.

“We are incredibly excited to have him involved and learn from the phenomenal experience and expertise he will bring to the team.”

Beneo hire

Elsewhere,  functional ingredients specialist Beneo, welcomes Stefanie De Roover as Sales Director of the EMEA region.

“The great thing is that all these markets hold a fantastic opportunity for BENEO to support our customers and grow together,”​ De Roover says.

“I look forward to taking on the new challenge and supporting our customers in EMEA, helping them to reach their goals by providing them with market inspiration, nutritional know-how and technical expertise.”

Having joined the form in 2009, De Roover is now focusing on Beneo’s drive towards digitalisation adding, “From a customer point of view, we want to ensure that BENEO is an agile supplier to work with and our digital transformation will be key to this.

“In turn, we believe that digital convenience will be an important aspect in contributing to Beneo’s growth, allowing for more efficient communication with partners and customers, as well as delivering on-demand supply with greater room for collaboration.”

Pharmactive Biotech

Moving on to Spain and Pharmactive Biotech have made further inroads into the pharmaceutical sector with the appointment of Paul Clayton, as Chair of its scientific advisory board.

Clayton’s hire serves to support the firm’s business development with mental health formulations such as its affron saffron extract.

"Including high-level medical and natural science experts on the advisory board enables the company to combine and reconciliate the two worlds of pharma and nutraceuticals, to benefit both consumers and medical practitioners and will help the pharmaceutical business provide greater value to their patrons,"​ says Jean-Marie Raymond, CEO at Pharmactive.

Clayton will work with the firm’s medical advisor, Dr Carlos Galmarini, in supporting future product development, clinical studies protocols, and developing consumer insights.

“An ingredient for mood health, such as Pharmactive's validated saffron extract, affron, can be used as stand-alone or to enhance pharmaceutical products,"​ explains Clayton.

"Consumers are seeking science-based, natural mental wellness solutions and Pharmactive can answer this demand, having already pioneered in the field. The company recently published a clinical study on affron with antidepressants, and there are more to come."

OptiBiotix Health

Finally, microbiome tech firm OptiBiotix Health appoints René Kamminga as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its wholly owned subsidiary OptiBiotix Ltd.

“It is a pleasure to join OptiBiotix at such an exciting stage of its commercial growth strategy,”​ says Kamminga.

“OptiBiotix has ambitious plans to accelerate its functional fibre division into new markets with its scientifically backed microbiome modulation technologies.

“I am confident that we can drive further commercialisation of these technologies within the food and nutraceutical industries.”

The appointment adds to the firm’s drive to commercialise its microbiome modulating technology platforms, including weight management supplement SlimBiome and functional fibre blend WellBiome.

Following Kamminga’s appointment, Dr Frederic Narbel will move from director of the OptiBiotix board and managing director of the functional fibres division to Non-Executive Director of OptiBiotix Ltd in June.

“René’s wealth of experience in speciality food ingredients and track record of growing sales through his vast network of industry contacts will help OptiBiotix reach its next phase of evolution,” ​comments Stephen O’Hara, CEO at parent company OptiBiotix Health PLC.

“I am delighted to welcome him to the OptiBiotix management team and board of directors.”

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