Swindon & Wiltshire News
Seaweed packaging innovator Kelpi appoints new CEO
Bristol-based Seaweed packaging innovator Kelpi has appointed a new CEO.
Neil Morris, the founding CEO, is to take the role of non-executive chairman, with Kelpi’s chief commercial officer Hugo Adams moving into the CEO role.
Back in June, the sustainable packaging firm Kelpi has secured £4.35 million in investment to take its pioneering seaweed-based technology to market.
Hugo joined Kelpi in June 2023 as chief commercial officer, after spells as CEO at high-growth sustainable clothing brand Frugi and Start-Rite Shoes.
At the same time, co-founder and finance director Murray Kenneth has announced he is stepping back from the business to focus on new opportunities.
A search is now under way for a CFO for Kelpi to support the company’s run-up to a Series A funding round in 2026.
“I am excited by the opportunity to take over as CEO at Kelpi at this time,” said Hugo.
“Over the last two years I have successfully taken Kelpi to some of the world’s largest food and drink and personal care companies and have seen first-hand the fantastic response to our coating to paper and card that can finally match or even exceed the performance of fossil fuel plastics.
“We have a unique technology, industry-leading partners and I’m excited about taking our product to market.”
Neil added: “Hugo and I have worked closely for a long time, and he’s a brilliant leader to take Kelpi through the next chapter as we act upon regulatory approval to take our products into global markets.”
Kelpi was founded in 2020 by Neil, Murray and University of Bath professor Chris Chuck, first developing in the lab an effective, renewably-sourced, fully biodegradable alternative to fossil fuel plastics in single-use packaging, then winning global industrial clients and working in collaboration with leading European producers of paper, card and fibre packaging to which Kelpi’s coatings are applied.
As chair, Neil will work with Hugo towards the 2026 Series A funding round, continuing to spearhead Kelpi’s strong track record in winning and delivering grant-funded innovation programmes, as well as overseeing some of the company’s moves towards putting AI at the heart of its material development processes.
Pictured: Kelpi CTO Georgios Gkotsis, CSO Stefanie Federle, CEO Hugo Adams, and chairman Neil Morris
