Myco, a food-tech company that produces plant-based protein made from oyster mushrooms, has appointed David Wood as its new chief executive officer.
The company has hired Wood as part of its growth strategy, which aims to see over 70 new jobs created over the next three years.
Headquartered in Darlington, UK, Myco is ramping up the production of its plant-based protein source, named ‘Hooba,’ at a new purpose-built production site in North Yorkshire.
The mince-style Hooba product is designed to be used by partners in the food industry to create meat-free protein products such as burgers, sausages and mince-based ready meals like Bolognese. Myco utilises an AI-led vertical farming approach to grow its oyster mushrooms, which contain all nine amino acids.
Wood joins Myco with 25 years of leadership experience from across the food industry. He has led senior management teams and implemented the strategic direction in food companies including Biscuits International, Northumbrian Fine Foods and Vbites, which announced it was entering administration last month.
In his new role, Wood will oversee the development and launch of Myco’s new sustainable food strategy at its 20,000-square-foot site in Leeming Bar, UK. According to Myco, the vertically-farmed production unit is the first of its kind in Britain.
Commenting on his appointment, Wood said that he was “blown away” by the vision and ethos at Myco.
He added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Myco especially at such an exciting time in the company’s expansion. This company has huge potential, and extraordinary work is being done here every single day to make a new generation of mouthwatering and sustainable plant-based products that make swapping out meat that bit easier for consumers.”
Myco’s co-founder and chairman, John Shepherd, commented: “This is an exciting time for Myco, and we know David is the right person to help us grow the business. His track record speaks for itself, and with decades of experience in the food sector – including sustainable food producers – he’s a perfect fit for what is a key role for Myco.”
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