Thomas was most recently president of two business units of MeadWestvaco, overseeing 15 operating plants around the world with annual sales over $700 million. A seasoned global executive, he's held senior leadership positions at Rio Tinto, Alcan, and Pechiney. Thomas graduated from HEC Paris and also served as an officer in the French Air Force.
Dr. Kozubal is a leading expert in extremophile organisms—organisms that can survive in extreme conditions. He's discovered numerous new species and published extensively in the space, as well as collaborated with top research organizations including NASA, The National Science Foundation, the USDA, the EPA, and the Department of the Interior. Mark holds a Ph.D. in Geomicrobiology from Montana State University and a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego.
Matthew brings extensive experience in start-up commercialization, financing, and strategy to the company. Previously he was an investor at First Green Partners—an early-stage venture capital firm founded in partnership with global private equity firm Warburg Pincus—where he focused on investments in food/agriculture, energy, and chemicals. He began his career in investment banking and holds a degree in physics from Carleton College.
Karuna joined Nature's Fynd from Publicis Groupe's Leo Burnett, where she was President and Groupe Client Lead over a portfolio of their key global clients. She brings over two decades of experience in brand management & shopper marketing across the retail, healthcare, and consumer packaged goods categories. Karuna was also Lead Strategist on the internationally successful #LikeAGirl campaign from P&G brand Always, which won 14 Cannes Lions in 2015, as well as an Emmy for Outstanding Television Commercial.
A veteran senior executive with expertise in molecular biology, chemical catalysis, and industrial biotechnology (specifically fermentation), Jim brings a thirty-year career as an entrepreneurial leader. Previously he's held management positions at Cargill's Industrial Bioproducts unit and Draths, a renewable chemicals company. Most recently, Jim served as CTO of BioAmber, overseeing the development, scale-up, and commercial implementation of a fermentation technology.
Fynder \faɪn-dər\ noun : a person dedicated to making a difference by solving some pretty big problems to make the world a better place.
From the geysers of the west to the food capital of the midwest, our team works from the mountains to the plains.
