Growing protein out of 'thin air' - Finnish foodtech Solar Foods appoints Rami Jokela as new CEO

Solar Foods, a Finnish producer of alternative protein, has appointed former Körber Group and ABB executive Rami Jokela as its new CEO.

Jokela will be tasked with scaling up global sales as the company tries to transition from technological developments to driving growth worldwide, especially in the United States.

Solar Foods has developed an all-purpose protein called Solein which the company says is made “out of thin air” by fermenting a single microbe using air and electricity.

Solein is produced without the need for agricultural products and can be used for any kind of food, the company says.

The next step is to scale up production and implementing a global business strategy, which is where Jokela comes in.

From innovator to global player

Jokela will take over the role on April 1 and will also join the company’s board, Solar Foods says in a statement.

"The appointment of Rami Jokela reflects Solar Foods’ readiness to transition from a technological innovator to a global commercial player," says board chairman Juha Lindfors.

Jokela previously served as chief sales officer at German tech and automation giant Körber Group, and has also had leading roles at ABB and Rolls Royce.

"I’ve had the honour to lead five different growth journeys in my career,” Jokela says. “The technology, the people and the spirit of collaboration have been critical success factors in each of these. In Solar Foods, I see the same motivation and the same capacity for huge growth."

Solar Foods is initially targeting the health and performance nutrition segment, especially in the U.S., and is in the process of scaling up production at its first factory.

Jokela replaces founding CEO Pasi Vainikka, who will remain at the company "in an important role" until the end of the 2025, to help ensure a seamless transition, Solar Foods says.