A sudden change at the helm of BioAmber has been announced.
In a news release Wednesday, the Montreal-based company announced that Jean Francois Huc has resigned as president and CEO.
BioAmber Inc. says Fabrice Orecchioni, the company's chief operating officer, has been named president, effective immediately.
In his role as COO over the past four years, Orecchioni supervised the construction, start-up and operation of Sarnia's manufacturing plant and the management of the Mitsui Joint Venture (JV). The company says he's also been extensively involved in the negotiations with CJ CheilJedang (CJCJ) in China.
BioAmber says Huc, who stepped down for personal reasons, will remain a member of the board of directors and will also assume an advisory role with the management team to help ensure a smooth transition.
Last September, BioAmber said Sarnia was still in the running for a second plant, which would be more than six times the size of the existing $141-million facility on Vidal St.
BioAmber has an option on land at TransAlta’s Bluewater Energy Park but is also considering sites in Louisiana and Iowa.