Jon Veldhouse appointed CEO of Qore, the Cargill and HELM joint venture

Veldhouse and Qore focused on launching QIRA, the next-generation bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO).

Wayzata, Minnesota (November 02, 2021)

Qore LLC, the new joint venture of Cargill and Helm first announced in June, has appointed Jon Veldhouse as its CEO. With more than two decades of experience in fermentation technologies and commercial strategy, Veldhouse will lead efforts to bring Qore’s next-generation bio-based 1,4-butanediol brand QIRA to market.

In his most recent role as a business development manager at Cargill, Veldhouse was instrumental in partnering with HELM to stand up Qore in Eddyville, Iowa. The project, which is now under construction, is the first commercial-scale, renewable BDO facility in the U.S.

“Our vision at Qore is to support material producers and brand owners along the value chain in making products more sustainable. QIRA is a true innovation in the chemicals market and our answer to the urgent need from brands for efficient solutions and the increased consumer demand for more sustainable products. I am proud of the progress we’ve made with QIRA and excited to lead the team as we work to bring this solution to customers,” Veldhouse said.

Made biologically through the fermentation of bio-based sugars, QIRA will help brands improve their environmental footprint without sacrificing product performance or altering their existing downstream manufacturing processes. QIRA is designed for a variety of applications, including the making of spandex and other polyester-based chemical fibers as well as biodegradable plastics, polyurethane coatings, sealants and artificial leathers.

“Jon has spent nearly 20 years at Cargill in a variety of technical and commercial positions, with a proven history of success in fermentation technology,” said Jill Zullo, Vice President, Biointermediates/Bioindustiral at Cargill and board Chair of Qore. “He has a strong track record of commercial leadership for new technologies that offer sustainable solutions for our customers, and his experience and expertise uniquely position him to lead Qore into the future.”

“Jon’s commitment to innovation and his demonstrated ability to make meaningful progress for customers make him the ideal candidate to lead this joint venture,” said Dr. Martin Kuzaj, Member of the Executive Board at HELM and Qore board member. “This move represents meaningful progress for Qore and an important milestone in HELM’s commitment to providing solutions for a successful transformation to a more sustainable planet and society.”

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Formed through a joint venture by Cargill and HELM, Qore will help leading brands replace fossil-based chemistries with bio-based intermediates. At the heart of the joint venture is the production of QIRA, the next-generation bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Made biologically through the fermentation of plant-based sugars, QIRA can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when replacing today’s widely used chemical intermediates made from traditional fossil sources. Bio-based QIRA can be used the same way as its chemical counterpart but with better environmental performance.

Contacts:

Leonie Amtenbrink, BCW Global
leonie.amtenbrink[at]bcw-global.com

Nicolai Dorka, QIRA Brand & Communication
nicolai.dorka[at]myqira.com