Algiecel, a Danish microalgae ingredients company developing alternatives to fish-dependent supply chains, has appointed Mette Ingeman Pedersen as chief financial officer and Tove Feld as chairperson of its board of directors, the company announced July 6.
The appointments add to a leadership team headed by CEO Susanne Palsten Buchardt as Algiecel builds the financial, operational and governance capabilities needed to scale its marine bioactives platform for nutrition, pet food and personal care markets.
Algiecel's modular bioreactors cultivate Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae using artificial light, water and captured CO2. The company said the model is designed to provide predictable supply, consistent product quality and flexible scaling, helping customers manage exposure to marine ingredient supply volatility. Algiecel raised DKK 60 million (US$8.8 million) in 2024 to support the continued development and scale-up of its technology.
New appointments
Pedersen joins Algiecel after more than 20 years in senior finance, advisory and commercial roles across the Nordic region. She previously served as CFO of Topsoe's Power-to-X business, where she helped build the finance function and operating model for a rapidly scaling organization, supporting the commercial deployment of green technologies and first-of-a-kind industrial infrastructure.
Her experience also includes senior finance leadership roles at Saxo Bank, Nordea and Danske Bank, spanning finance transformation, IPO readiness, valuation modeling and fundraising preparation. At Algiecel, Pedersen will lead the finance function as the company prepares for commercial expansion and future investment.
"Algiecel is entering a decisive stage, where strong financial discipline must support ambitious commercial execution," Pedersen said. "The company has developed a platform with the potential to make high-performing microalgae ingredients more reliable, scalable and commercially accessible. My focus will be on helping Algiecel build the structure, investor confidence and financial resilience needed for long-term growth."
Feld will chair Algiecel's board with 35 years of experience in energy, infrastructure, renewables and strategic transformation, including more than 15 years of board experience across private and listed companies. An engineer by training, she has held senior leadership roles at Ørsted and its predecessor, DONG Energy, including chief technology officer and head of engineering, and has also held senior leadership roles at Siemens Wind Power and DNV.
Her appointment brings additional expertise in scaling technology-based companies, internationalization, investment, risk management and governance. At Algiecel, Feld will support the company as it moves from platform validation toward commercial production.
"Algiecel's opportunity is not only about producing microalgae; it is about building a reliable industrial platform for marine bioactives," Feld said. "The company combines biology, engineering and sustainability in a way that is highly relevant to the future of ingredient supply. I look forward to supporting the team as it moves toward commercial scale."
Scaling production
Scaling Algiecel requires more than promising technology, Buchardt said.
"It requires operational discipline, financial rigor, industrial experience and a leadership team capable of turning innovation into reliable commercial supply," she added. "Mette and Tove bring exactly that. Their appointments strengthen our ability to execute as we build Algiecel into a trusted supplier of effective microalgae ingredients delivered at scale."
The company noted that with Buchardt as CEO and Pedersen as CFO, women are represented across Algiecel's central executive and board-level roles, including Head of Legal and HR Rikke Dybvad, board member Merete Lundbye Møller and Feld's board appointment.
