New Velocys CEO Matthew Viergutz to drive growth

Velocys, a leading provider of Fischer-Tropsch decarbonisation solutions, has appointed Matthew Viergutz as its new chief executive officer (CEO). He takes over from Henrik Wareborn, who has stepped down to pursue new opportunities. Based at the company’s Houston, Texas, U.S.A., office, Viergutz brings extensive expertise in process licensing, biofuels, and sustainable technology commercialisation.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Viergutz has held leadership roles at Monsanto, MECS Inc., DuPont, and Sulzer. He previously served as CEO of Butamax Advanced Biofuels, a joint venture between BP and DuPont, where he successfully commercialised an innovative biofuels platform.

“I am thrilled to be joining a leading Fischer-Tropsch technology company with a rich tradition of innovation and reactor technology scale-up,” said Viergutz. “Velocys operates in a dynamic and expanding market space and is supported by world-class investors. I look forward to accelerating the deployment of our technology to our customer base as we work to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.”

A new phase of growth for Velocys

This leadership transition follows a strategic investment in Velocys by a consortium of climate-focused investors, including Carbon Direct Capital, GenZero, and Lightrock, which took the company private in January 2024 and injected USD40 million in growth capital.

Velocys’ patented catalyst and micro-channel reactor platform provides scalable and flexible solutions for projects producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company’s Fischer-Tropsch technology supports various feedstocks, including municipal solid waste, woody biomass, CO₂, and green hydrogen, demonstrating commercial-scale success.

“Matthew brings entrepreneurial drive, industry acumen, and a track record of commercial execution,” said Josh Dienstag, chief investment officer at Carbon Direct Capital. “We are delighted to welcome Matthew to the company especially at a time when demand for sustainable aviation fuel – and the key technologies that underpin its production – is accelerating.”

With this appointment, Velocys continues to strengthen its position as a leader in sustainable fuels and decarbonisation technology, paving the way for innovative, low-carbon solutions in the aviation and energy sectors.