Precision fermentation dairy start-up Formo has appointed Andreas Heyl to the role of chief technology officer.

The start-up, based in Berlin, Germany, said the appointment will strengthen its leadership team as it accelerates the industrial scale-up and commercialisation of its technology platform.

Formo develops precision-fermented, animal-free casein – a protein traditionally found in milk – for alt-dairy applications. These proteins are responsible for many of the functional and performance qualities of cheese and other dairy products.

Heyl joins following close engagement with the company’s technology and manufacturing roadmap, with Formo currently focusing on expanding customer engagement and scaling manufacturing.

He brings more than two decades of experience scaling advanced food, chemical and biotechnology processes into robust industrial production.

Previously, Heyl held senior leadership positions at Lonza and ICL Group, including CTO roles overseeing global R&D, innovation and industrialisation agendas. He also co-founded the biotech and ingredients company Insempra.

Most recently, Heyl advised high-impact industrial ventures on scaling technologies from pilot to commercial manufacturing and bringing their products to market. He also served as innovation manager for Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, SPRIN-D.

Commenting on his CTO role, Heyl said: “Formo’s precision fermentation platform has reached a level of technical and economic maturity that makes industrial scale-up not just possible, but compelling”.

“The fundamentals are in place. My role is to accelerate execution along the cost and scale curves and work closely with customers and partners to bring this technology into commercial reality.”

Raffael Wohlgensinger, founder and CEO of Formo, said the company is currently in a “decisive phase,” adding: “Andreas brings deep experience in industrialising complex technologies under real economic constraints. His decision to join the executive team reflects both the strength of our technology platform and the momentum we are building toward commercialisation.”