Kincannon & Reed Recruits CEO for Låkril Technologies
December 1, 2025 – Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has recruited Justin Brown as the new CEO of Låkril Technologies in Chicago. “Justin’s leadership will accelerate the company’s mission to replace petroleum-based feedstock with sustainable, agricultural alternatives, enabling seamless drop-in solutions for the global chemical industry,” Låkril Technologies said. “Combined with co-founder Chris Nicholas, Låkril expands their strong leadership team. Chris will now accelerate development of an industry-leading technology suite backed by a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio as Låkril’s chief technical officer.”
With two decades of experience in the energy and energy transition sectors, Justin brings a proven track record of scaling innovations through product management, strategic marketing, and cross-functional team leadership. He has guided global teams across North America, Asia, and Europe, delivering customer-centric innovations that bridge technology and market needs.
Mr. Brown has built a long career in the energy/oil-and-gas equipment and services space. He was formerly a director of global product management at Honeywell UOP, leading global product/aftermarket strategy and commercialization. Before Honeywell, he spent many years with Shawcor and its operating companies (including Bredero Shaw and Shaw Pipeline Services), progressing through roles tied to pipeline services, coatings, and related industrial offerings, and also worked with Lake Superior Consulting (a Shawcor company).
As CEO, Mr. Brown will spearhead Låkril’s commercialization efforts, including the Q4 2025 pilot plant launch. This milestone will help accelerate the commercialization of their bio-acrylic acid product, providing a sustainable alternative for coatings, adhesives, and superabsorbent polymer customers. “Justin’s business expertise positions Låkril to scale technologies that convert bio-based sugars into drop-in, high-volume chemicals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and strengthening supply chain security and makes him the ideal leader to guide Låkril through this pivotal growth phase, including our next financing round in 2026,” the company said.
Låkril Technologies develops advanced catalysts and process technology to enable the drop-in replacement of petroleum with bio-based agricultural feedstocks for chemical production. Founded to advance the energy transition and strengthen feedstock security, the company delivers scalable, eco-friendly solutions that support industries worldwide. Earlier this year, Låkril closed a $3 million seed funding round, elevating total investment to approximately $7 million, including grants.
Related: Kincannon & Reed Recruits President and CEO for CropLife America
Founded in 1981, Kincannon & Reed serves clients throughout the world from locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The firm is based in Arlington, VA. Kincannon & Reed’s mission is: “We recruit leaders for organizations that feed the world and keep it healthy.”
SIRE Search
Kincannon & Reed also recently placed Eric Fobes as the new CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE). Current CEO Mike Jerke will retire at the end of 2025 after seven years of leadership. He will remain with the company through 2026 to support a smooth transition.
“Eric’s deep commercial expertise and understanding of the ethanol business will position Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy as a leader in a dynamic and evolving industry,” said Karol King, chairman of SIRE’s board of directors.
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Mr. Fobes brings more than 20 years of executive experience in the energy and ethanol industries, with a strong track record in trading, marketing, asset management, and mergers and acquisitions strategy. Most recently, he led renewable fuel trading, distribution, and risk management for a national travel center company, overseeing the largest retail consumption of renewable fuel in the country, along with rapid expansion of E15 gasoline offerings across their network. Mr. Fobes also executed the acquisition of an ethanol plant and directed major process technology upgrades. Prior to that, he managed global ethanol operations for four leading international energy and commodity firms.
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy is a farmer-owned ethanol production facility located in Council Bluffs, IA, that was formed in March 2005 and began operations in February 2009. With a capacity of about 140 million gallons per year, the plant uses corn as its primary feedstock to produce fuel-grade ethanol.
Related: Kincannon & Reed Recruits President for AGCO Corporation’s PTx
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
