SAN DIEGO, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sapphire
Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude
oil production, today announced the appointment of Jeff Webster as Chief Operating Officer
(COO). In this role, Mr. Webster brings more than 28 years of
broad industry experience across biotech, renewable energy,
agriculture, and oil & gas, including setting strategic
direction and leading implementation of successful new business
initiatives for industry leading companies such as Solazyme and
Tyson Foods' Renewable Products Division. At Sapphire Energy,
he'll oversee current and future business operations, business and
project development and corporate affairs.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120402/SF80367LOGO)
"From its executives to scientists to engineers and more,
Sapphire Energy has established itself as one of the most powerful
entities behind the progression of algae biology science,
technology and industry," said Cynthia 'CJ' Warner, CEO and
chairman of Sapphire Energy. "Jeff's extensive background in
developing and managing successful business initiatives for newly
emerging markets makes him a great addition to our team, and I'm
certain he'll play a crucial role in helping to drive the company
forward as we move towards the commercialization stage of our Green
Crude Farm initiative and beyond."
Prior to Sapphire Energy, Mr. Webster served as COO at Solazyme
(NASDAQ: SZYM), an algal-based renewable oil and bioproduct
company, where he was responsible for leading in-market business
units and multiple administrative functions. Prior to that,
he served as GVP and GM of Renewable Products – Tyson Foods, a
major division of Tyson that manufactures and sells ingredients
into the human, pet, and animal feed markets, where he established
new growth platforms, partnerships and brands, while pioneering the
company's efforts into the renewable energy space. He also
created multiple business ventures, while successfully securing
legislation for next-generation renewable fuels, including the
landmark partnership with ConocoPhillips that established new ways
for agricultural companies to partner with refiners in second
generation fuels. Additionally, he was responsible for
initiating, funding, and building North
America's first stand-alone, commercial scale, advanced
biofuels facility via Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint venture between
Tyson and Syntroleum.
Mr. Webster was also formerly CEO at Carmichael Training
Systems, an endurance training start-up company. Earlier in
his career, he held various management positions within
engineering, market research, finance, and ultimately as vice
president of Global Strategy & Development at Kellogg Co.,
where he was responsible for portfolio, market entry, and brand
strategy initiatives. He began his career as a Geophysicist
with ARCO. He holds a B.S. in Geophysics from Michigan State University, and is a graduate of
Northwestern's Executive Development Program.
About Sapphire Energy
San Diego-based Sapphire Energy
is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude production –
with the potential to profoundly change America's energy and
petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire's products and
processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of
biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic
microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO2 as
their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable
farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or
ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are
compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon,
renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in
Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is
currently operating the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in
Columbus, New Mexico. For more
information, visit www.sapphireenergy.com or
Follow
Sapphire Energy on Twitter:
@sapphireenergy
|
Like
Sapphire Energy on Facebook: Facebook.com/SapphireEnergy
|
See
Sapphire Energy videos at:
YouTube.com/SapphireEnergyVideo
|
Subscribe
to Sapphire Energy's RSS feed at:
SapphireEnergy.com/NewsFeed.xml
|
SOURCE Sapphire Energy, Inc.