Arbios Biotech president Alan Nicholl becomes Licella CEO

After 16 years as CEO of Licella, Len Humphreys, who is also company co-founder and co-inventor of the Cat-HTR platform, will move to the role of executive chairman. Alan Nicholl, who is currently managing director of Licella, will assume the role of CEO, effective Sept. 1, 2023.

Nicholl joined Licella in April 2022 and recently vacated his position of president and CEO of Arbios Biotech, Licella’s joint venture with Canfor, one of the world’s largest forestry producers.

Alongside his new role as executive chairman, Humphreys will drive pre-commercial technology innovation for Licella, including advanced biofuels and the development of high-value biomaterial product applications.

In welcoming the changes, Humphreys said they marked a watershed moment for the company. “We have seen the interest in our Cat-HTR platform surge in the last 18 months, and this reflects the significant technological advances Licella have made. I’m delighted to step into the role of executive chairman at a time when both the Arbios plant in Canada and Mura plant in the UK are approaching construction completion, while welcoming Alan to take the lead on the commercial strategy. Alan and I will continue to work together closely to capitalize on this extraordinary opportunity for Licella.”

Nicholl added that the new structure allowed Licella to fully realize the immense market opportunities for its technology. “As the world drives towards net zero carbon, we continue to be excited about the unprecedented opportunity for our proprietary Cat-HTR platform to deliver global impact particularly for bio-based product applications producing such upgraded products as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).”

The company continues to progress planning for the first of what it expects will be several advanced recycling plants in ANZ, at Altona, Victoria. The company has also developed a high-quality, stable biocrude from post-consumer biomass which lends itself via upgrading to high-value and sought-after renewable transportation fuel and biochemical applications.