SAN DIEGO, Aug. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genomatica announced the addition of Just Jansz to its Board of Directors. Jansz has thirty years of international experience as an accomplished senior executive in the chemical industry with leaders such as LyondellBasell and Shell. He will provide uniquely well-grounded insights as Genomatica expands the licensing of its bio-based process technology to industry leaders worldwide.
Jansz is a former president of technology at Basell and LyondellBasell and has led one of the most successful and largest global licensing and catalyst businesses from 2004 to 2010. For many years he has been involved in commercializing innovative technologies and the subsequent monetizing of intellectual property, including licensing, partnerships and the identification and establishment of new ventures. He is the founder and director of Expertise Beyond Borders (EBB), a global business and technology consultancy for the chemical, process and materials industries with broad and diverse global business experience in the petrochemical and polymer industry.
"Genomatica is well-positioned to be the go-to process technology partner for the mainstream chemical industry for harnessing biotechnology," said Jansz. "Genomatica's commercial process for BDO and its technology platform for developing more processes mesh well with the industry's need to cost-effectively use alternative feedstocks and meet fast-growing end-user demand for more sustainable products and materials. I am excited to be working with Genomatica."
Jansz also worked at Shell and affiliated companies from 1981 to 2004 in technical and managerial roles for the polymer, petrochemical and mineral processing industries. Jansz holds a Ph.D. in chemical metallurgy and a master's degree in mineral engineering from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. Jansz joins current Genomatica board members Christophe Schilling, Ph.D., William H. Baum, Warren Clark, Geoff Duyk, M.D., Ph.D., Josh Green, Thomas J.G. Huot, Ph.D. and J. Leighton Read, M.D.
"Having such a highly-qualified individual as Jansz join our board speaks to the level of interest in the chemical industry for our technology," said Christophe Schilling, Ph.D., CEO of Genomatica. "Jansz brings tremendous practical experience with direct relevance to our joint ventures, partnering and licensing activities around the world. His enthusiasm and commitment is a perfect fit for Genomatica and we look forward to continued growth and success."
About Genomatica
Genomatica is a widely-recognized technology leader for the chemical industry. Using biotechnology, it delivers new manufacturing processes that enable its licensee partners to produce the world's most widely-used chemicals a 'better way', from renewable feedstocks, with better economics and greater sustainability than petroleum-based processes.
Genomatica's first process, for BDO, is now commercial. Genomatica's BDO process was used to make 5 million pounds of BDO in late 2012, and has been licensed by both BASF and Novamont. Multiple companies, including Toray, Lanxess and Far Eastern New Century, have confirmed that BDO produced using Genomatica's process can be used the exact same way for downstream products as petro-chemicals, accelerating adoption. Genomatica is also developing processes for other high-volume chemicals: the next is for butadiene, with Versalis as partner.
Genomatica's recognition includes the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation award, ICIS Top 40 'Ones to Watch', the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, and being voted #1 Hottest two years in a row by Biofuels Digest.