Apeel CEO Steps Down, Mission Remains Same
February 28, 2024 | Source: Pacific Coast Business Times | by Jorge Mercado
When James Rogers founded Goleta-based Apeel Sciences in 2012, he believed the hardest part of steering the company would be finding new ways to coat each fruit to help the quality last longer and help eliminate food waste.
Turns out, the hardest part was finding a way to align the mission of the business while still commercializing the product and growing the company, he told the Business Times Feb. 27. And now that he feels comfortable Apeel has found a real balance between the two, Rogers is ready to take a step back.
“I’m so proud that we’re finally at the point now where the more of our plant-based solutions we get out there in the world, the more abundance we create. The commercial success of our business is finally aligned with the mission success of our business,” Rogers said.
Apeel announced on Feb. 26 that James Rogers will be stepping down from his title as CEO and that the company has appointed Luiz Beling to take over the position, effective immediately. Rogers will remain on the Apeel board and keep his role as founder of the company. Over the next few months, he will also be helping Beling adjust to the role.
Rogers said the company has been searching for a new CEO since the middle of 2023.