Chicago clean energy startup LanzaTech just added to its executive team as it looks to bring its technology that turns pollution into things like fabric, fragrances and laundry pods to more blue-chip companies.
LanzaTech announced Wednesday that it hired John Gugel as its chief growth officer. Gugel, the former president and CEO of Honeywell UOP, will be tasked with leading the company's next phase of expansion.
LanzaTech, founded in 2005, is a carbon recycling tech firm that aims to reduce global CO2 emissions by converting waste carbon into new, everyday products. It works with companies like Unilever, Loreal, lululemon and Indian Oil, and has raised more than $400 million from government, institutional venture capital and corporate backers. Its investors include Khosla Ventures, Novo Holdings and the Department of Energy.
In March, beauty conglomerate Coty announced it was working with LanzaTech to create sustainable fragrances, and Unliever announced in April that it partnered with LanzaTech to produce a new laundry detergent pod.
Led by CEO Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech also creates renewable fuel for airplanes through its subsidiary, LanzaJet, which launched last year with $50 million in funding.
The company has more than 200 employees, and has a new facility set to open next year in Georgia.
