XAMPLA has announced it has strengthened its team with two new hires and two director-level promotions as it gears up for a global commercialisation of its plastic-free Morro materials.
Following a $14 million Series A funding round, the team aims to help Morro materials replace ten billion units of single-use plastic over the next five years.
Former BioPak UK director Sam Walker joins as head of business development and sales, bringing experience of developing sustainable packaging for global brands and their supply chain partners. He will oversee all customer relationships around the world.
Bolstering Xampla’s marketing and communications is David Cohen, joining as PR & communications manager. Cohen has over a decade of experience building the reputations of global science and technology companies, with a particular focus on the sustainability space.
Xampla has also promoted its technology and marketing department leads to directors, reflecting its scale-up to a global player in plastic-free materials.
Scott Thompson steps into a newly created technology director role and is responsible for scaling Morro materials through innovation. Xampla said Thompson played a pivotal role in bringing Morro Coating to market by developing high-performing grease and water barriers ahead of partnerships with sustainable packaging giant Huhtamaki and Just Eat Takeaway.com
Katrina Curl is promoted to marketing & corporate affairs director, where she will lead Xampla’s marketing and corporate affairs efforts globally. Since joining Xampla in 2021 as head of marketing & communications, Curl has played a key role in the growth of the company, notably creating the Morro brand in 2023 to bring together and launch Xampla’s plastic-free applications.
CEOÂ Alexandra French said, “I am immensely proud to be leading such an outstanding team. Expanding our business development and marcomms functions is crucial to building our global business, as is broadening our product capabilities and portfolio.
“Sam is an industry veteran whose knowledge of the commercial and regulatory landscape will be invaluable as we continue to develop partnerships with household names and scale up Morro materials. We’re delighted to welcome him, and David, to the team.
“Thanks also to Scott and Katrina for their years of service and exceptional work. Their expertise has been vital in commercialising the technology behind Morro materials and getting it to market. Their new roles are very well deserved and their strategic leadership will support Xampla as it looks to global expansion.”
