A Glasgow-based AgriTech startup has appointed Paula Pinto, an experienced industry veteran, as chief strategy officer to lead its US operations in North Carolina. This strategic move comes shortly after SOLASTA Bio secured £4m in investment. Pinto will be responsible for defining the company’s global go-to-market strategy, developing corporate alliances, and collaborating with chief business officer Daphne Preuss to negotiate these alliances.
Pinto, a trained chemical engineer, has over five years of board experience and a 25-year international career in marketing and operational roles within specialty chemicals and agricultural solutions industries. Prior to joining SOLASTA Bio, she played a crucial role in positioning UPL as a global leader in sustainable agricultural solutions and co-heading the integration of Arysta LifeScience with UPL.
Meanwhile, Daphne Preuss, an experienced entrepreneur, joins SOLASTA Bio as a key team member. Preuss has focused on bringing genetic and biotechnology innovations to agriculture through her firm, Catalytical. With experience supporting CEOs of innovative companies, she has a strong track record in enabling efficient operations.
These appointments emphasize SOLASTA Bio’s commitment to gender diversity, with three out of four board positions and three out of seven leadership positions occupied by women.
SOLASTA Bio, based in Glasgow, is led by a co-founding management team consisting of CEO Shireen Davies, chief scientific officer Professor Julian Dow, and former BASF senior executive Dr. Paul Bernasconi. The company currently employs a team of 20 R&D, commercial staff, and consultants, with 12 new additions in the past six months.
CEO Shireen Davies expressed her excitement about these appointments, stating, “These appointments are a real coup for SOLASTA Bio and represent a major step forward in its growth plans.” She also highlighted the importance of both Pinto and Preuss in forging partnerships and driving the company’s efforts to commercialize within the next four to five years, particularly in the US market.
Overall, these strategic hires will greatly contribute to SOLASTA Bio’s goal of expanding its operations and achieving its ambitious growth plans.
