MycoTechnology has appointed Michael Leonard as its new chief executive officer, succeeding former CEO and co-founder Alan Hahn.

Outgoing CEO Hahn will take on the role of executive chairman, marking a new chapter in the company’s growth and global expansion.

Leonard joins MycoTechnology from Motif FoodWorks, where he led the development and commercialisation of a portfolio of plant-based flavour and texture ingredients as CEO since 2022, and as CTO from 2019-2022.

Previously, he held senior leadership positions at Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo in both Asia and the US. His teams launched hundreds of products across the snacks, ready meals, beverage and nutrition categories.

Leonard has also held roles in process and product development, platform leadership, business development and strategy at International Flavors & Fragrances and DuPont Nutrition & Health.

He brings over 20 years of experience in technology development, commercialisation and innovation leadership in the food and CPG industries.

Commenting on his appointment, Leonard said he is thrilled to lead MycoTechnology through its next phase of growth.

He said: “Over the past ten years, Myco has developed important capabilities to target the food industry’s toughest challenges using the power of nature. I look forward to building on this foundation and expanding on our vision to drive innovation, sustainability and better consumer experiences.”

In a statement announcing the leadership changes, MycoTechnology said Hahn’s ‘unwavering commitment and expertise’ have been integral to the company’s achievements. This includes the development of its ingredient solutions, building of international partnerships and ‘significant strides’ in fungi-based technology.

As co-founder and executive chairman, he will continue to support and represent MycoTechnology in impactful ways including his upcoming participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28 UAE, where he will speak about food production technologies and fungi’s place in building a more sustainable food system.

Hahn commented: “It’s been an extraordinary journey guiding MycoTechnology from its infancy into a thriving company that is changing the landscape of the food industry. I’m immensely proud of our accomplishments so far, and I look forward to accelerating the growth of our commercial ingredients, our next generation platforms, and our global relationships in my new role as executive chairman.”

MycoTechnology’s investment in leadership will prepare the company as it builds on its innovations, including the recently announced discovery of honey truffle sweetener and Vital Foods, its joint venture in Oman focused on providing a novel whole food ingredient in the region.