REHOVOT, ISRAEL – Cultivated meat startup Future Meat Technologies, announced the appointment of three food industry executives to leadership positions with the company. On May 26, the company named Gustavo Burger as its chief operating officer, Jennifer Henderson as chief administrative officer, general counsel, and corporate secretary and Moses Talbi as chief financial and business development officer. The additions bring decades of leadership on a global scale to Future Meat.
Burger joins Future Meat after leading operations around the world, most recently working as vice president of operations with The Kraft Heinz Co. He has been recognized as a top-level supply chain expert with a background as a senior leader of procurement, logistics and manufacturing for companies that include BRF S.A. and A.B. InBev. In his new role, Burger will develop and implement a complete supply chain operation using digital tools to serve Future Meat’s customers around the world. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brazil’s Trevisan Escola de Negócios and is a certified in advanced supply chain management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Henderson brings more than 20 years of legal experience to Future Meat with global experience in food safety, quality control and regulatory compliance in industries that include feed, food and biotechnology. She will be responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining programs that encompass the company’s government relations, regulatory compliance, food safety and legal affairs. Henderson joins Future Meat from Cargill Inc., where she worked as a global leader in law, food safety, quality and regulatory issues. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.
Moses Talbi has worked in financial and business development roles for about 20 years with both multinational companies and start-up businesses, and both publicly and privately held companies. His experience includes leading fundraising rounds and developing disruptive technology for companies specializing in consumer products from software to food technology. In his new role, Talbi will develop, lead and execute Future Meat’s financial and business development as it advances as a global food company.
“Future Meat is on an accelerated growth track, and we've reached a significant milestone in expanding our executive leadership team to include these key new appointments,” said Nicole Johnson-Hoffman, Future Meat’s chief executive officer. “Our ability to attract world-class talent is a testament to what this company has already achieved and its long-term potential to change the world. This team is now laser-focused on expanding our operational footprint to create significant long-term growth. Bringing veteran leaders like Gustavo, Jennifer, and Moses together creates a powerful force for driving the business forward and executing our go-to-market strategy.”
Future Meat’s proprietary technology creates cultivated chicken, lamb, beef and pork meat directly from animal cells without the need to slaughter animals. Its technology is based on the rapid natural proliferation of connective tissue cells growing in stainless steel fermenters that continuously remove waste products to maintain a constant physiological environment. Unlike many other cultured meat startups, Future Meat’s connective tissue method is more cost-efficient than using stem cells, according to Yaakov Nahmias, founder and president. In the past year, the company has raised more than $350 million in financing, including funding from Tyson Foods’ venture capital arm and more recently it reported a record-breaking Series B fundraising round.
The company produces cultivated chicken, lamb, beef, and pork with numerous environmental, health, and ethical benefits and will radically transform the global production of meat. Cultivated meat requires less land and water to produce and doesn't use antibiotics. www.future-meat.com
