Kelpi appoints John Williams as CTO to accelerate sustainable materials innovation

UK – Sustainable materials company Kelpi has appointed John Williams as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), strengthening its leadership team as the company accelerates the development and commercialization of seaweed-based barrier coating technologies for sustainable packaging.

Williams will officially assume the role on 27 July, where he will lead the development, validation and industrial scale-up of Kelpi’s core technologies while helping shape the company’s future pipeline of bio-based materials and packaging solutions.

In announcing the appointment, Kelpi said Williams will play a central role in advancing its proprietary technology platform and supporting the transition from product development to commercial deployment.

“I’m really excited about getting started,” Williams said.

“I’m impressed with Kelpi’s core technology and am looking forward to shaping those product applications as well as identifying and developing new materials for commercialisation.”

Williams joins Kelpi from Aquapak Polymers, where he served as Chief Technology Officer.

Throughout his career, he has held senior technology and innovation positions focused on developing and commercializing advanced materials at organizations including NNFCC, Advanced Technical Products, Kelbchemie MG Becker, TOTAL Speciality Polymers and Henkel.

Beyond his executive experience, Williams holds several advisory and governance roles across the materials innovation ecosystem.

He serves on the investment committee board at S’Investec and advises the Royce Institute on the UK’s National Materials Strategy, the Revolution Plastics Advisory Council, the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

His expertise also extends to the application of artificial intelligence in advanced materials development and participation in UK and European government initiatives supporting innovation and sustainable manufacturing.

Kelpi Chief Executive Officer Hugo Adams welcomed the appointment, describing Williams as an important addition to the company’s leadership team.

“I am absolutely delighted that John is joining the Kelpi team,” Adams said.

“He brings a huge wealth of experience and knowledge to the business and will be instrumental in driving and developing our existing and new technologies.”

The appointment comes at a pivotal stage in Kelpi’s growth. Last month, the company entered into a strategic partnership with global packaging manufacturer Amcor to evaluate the commercial potential of Kelpi’s seaweed-derived barrier coating technology across multiple consumer goods applications.

The collaboration aims to assess whether the renewable material can be scaled into commercially viable packaging solutions that support circular economy objectives while reducing reliance on conventional fossil-based barrier coatings.

Williams’ appointment reflects the growing competition within the sustainable materials sector, where companies are strengthening technical leadership as demand rises for fibre-based, bio-derived and compostable packaging technologies.

As brand owners and packaging manufacturers seek alternatives to traditional plastic coatings, investment in advanced biomaterials and scalable commercialization capabilities is becoming increasingly critical to bringing next-generation sustainable packaging solutions to market.

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