Calyxt, a healthy food ingredient company, announced the appointment of Travis Frey as Chief Technology Officer, effective May 20. Frey brings his extensive knowledge in plant biology and biotechnology to a newly created position at the company. As CTO, Frey will be responsible for the R&D team to propel product development and its pipeline of healthier food ingredients.
“With over 15 years of agricultural industry and technology innovation experience, Travis will be an excellent asset to complement the Calyxt team as we grow and assess our business needs,” says Jim Blome, Chief Executive Officer of Calyxt. “Travis has a well-rounded background in the field, and I’m confident that in partnership with our Chief Science Officer, Dan Voytas, he will be a critical voice in our continuous evaluation of our food ingredient pipeline.”
Travis Frey received his B.S. in Horticulture from Penn State University, followed by his M.S. in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from University of Wisconsin. He later obtained his PhD in the Plant Biology and Biotechnology Program at the University of Delaware and DuPont/Pioneer and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. Prior to joining Calyxt, Frey’s most recent role was with WISErg Corporation as their vice president of Science and Innovation, where he was responsible for developing and championing the science and technology vision, strategy and execution of company initiatives. Frey’s past experience also includes various positions with Monsanto, including Controlled Environment Facility director, Global Dicot Transformation Facility director, Genome Wide Genotyping and Platform Innovation lead and Trait Integration Innovation lead.
“I’m thrilled to be joining a company that uses cutting-edge breeding techniques and forward-thinking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation in its business,” comments Frey. “I look forward to partnering with Prof. Dan Voytas and contributing my experience to help Calyxt remain at the forefront of developing healthier food ingredients for consumers.”
Kincannon & Reed, a leading executive search firm focused on the food, agribusiness, and biosciences sectors, assisted Calyxt in the recruitment of its Chief Technology Officer.
