Home » AFYREN strengthens its Executive Committee with appointment of Laurent Pou as Industrial Director

AFYREN strengthens its Executive Committee with appointment of Laurent Pou as Industrial Director

10 April 2025

Press release

Further strengthening of the executive committee with industrial skills to support the final start-up phase of AFYREN NEOXY

Clermont-Ferrand/Lyon, 10 April 2025 at 07:30 CEST – AFYREN a greentech company offering manufacturers biobased, low-carbon ingredients through a unique fermentation technology based on a circular model, today announces the strengthening of its Executive Committee with the appointment of Laurent Pou as Industrial Director, a strategic position as the Group’s first biorefinery, AFYREN NEOXY, enters the final phase of industrial start-up.

A chemical engineering graduate of ENSIC Nancy and University College London, Laurent Pou has extensive experience with international companies such as Tereos and ExxonMobil. His 25 years’ experience in the chemicals and agrochemicals industry and his strong expertise in industrial plant start-ups, operations management and the industrial and economic optimisation of production assets are key strengths for the forthcoming continuous operation phase of AFYREN NEOXY and the ramp-up period that will follow.

Nicolas SORDET, Chief Executive Officer of AFYREN, said: “Laurent has very strong proven industrial experience, and his knowledge and experience are a major asset for the continued development of AFYREN. Working hand in hand with the team, his roadmap is to consolidate the progress made in recent quarters, to confirm and optimise the performance of our first biorefinery and to plan the expansion of our industrial activities, both in France and internationally.”

Laurent POU, Industrial Director of AFYREN, added: “Faced with the challenges of starting up a plant that is a world first, the AFYREN team has made remarkable progress with the structuring and deployment of an industrial organisation. Now that the plant is producing its first tens of tonnes, I’m delighted to be able to help the teams reach new milestones, firstly at the AFYREN NEOXY plant in Carling Saint-Avold, and then as we roll-out the Group’s future plants.”

This appointment follows on from the strengthening of the Executive Committee around industrial skills: Ursula Feulner, Director of Industrial Projects since early 2022, joined AFYREN’s Executive Committee in 2024.