Solar Foods, a Finnish innovator in sustainable protein production, has announced the appointment of Rami Jokela as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1 2025.

This leadership change comes as the company transitions from its foundational technological development phase to a focus on global market expansion, particularly in the Health & Performance Nutrition sector.

Jokela's appointment is seen as a critical step in Solar Foods' strategy to enhance its market presence and operational capacity.

His initial priorities will include driving growth in the US, implementing a concept sales model, and increasing production capacity at the company's Factory 01. Additionally, he will oversee the phased investment plan for Factory 02, with the goal of achieving positive EBITDA during the strategic period.

With a robust background in scaling international businesses, Jokela previously served as chief sales officer at Körber Group, where he successfully implemented a go-to-market strategy that significantly increased annual order intake.

His experience also includes leading digitalisation efforts at ABB Group, where he developed smart marine operations and established a substantial business presence in China.

Solar Foods is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable food solutions. The company’s flagship product, Solein, is a CO2-based protein alternative that promises to redefine food production by utilising resources more efficiently than traditional agriculture. This aligns with global trends favoring environmentally friendly and resource-efficient food sources.

Over the past seven years, Solar Foods has made significant strides, including securing food permits for Solein in key markets and demonstrating the technology's readiness for large-scale production.

The company was also admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Helsinki First North Growth Market in September 2024, enabling it to finance its ambitious growth strategy.

Pasi Vainikka, Solar Foods' founding CEO, will remain with the company until the end of 2025 to ensure a smooth transition for Jokela.

Vainikka said: As the first employee of Solar Foods, and one of the co-founders of this amazing growth story, I am naturally very proud of what we have accomplished together with the team so far. Bringing a new harvest to humankind is not a small feat. It’s a big deal.“

"It was obvious from the very beginning that we were working with a truly global opportunity. As a significant shareholder of Solar Foods, this leadership transition, together with the other recently announced management changes, demonstrates that we are fully committed to the swift execution of the strategy announced in late 2024."

He continued: "Building on the strong foundation laid over the past seven years, the company is now, under Rami’s leadership, ready for a significant expansion – first in the United States and then in other markets around the World. Even beyond Earth”.

With Jokela at the helm, Solar Foods' management team will include experienced leaders across various functions, such as finance, technology, operations, strategy and commercial development. This diverse team is expected to drive the company's growth and innovation efforts as it seeks to establish itself as a leader in sustainable protein production.

"In Solar Foods, I see the same motivation and the same capacity for huge growth," Jokela enthused. "The company’s groundbreaking technology has the potential to make a significant impact globally, and therefore I look forward to working with the team accelerating Solar Foods’ growth and bringing its innovative solutions to the world.”

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