EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS), a leading renewable chemicals and fuels company, today announced that Paulo Diniz, currently President of Amyris Brasil, will become Amyris's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on an interim basis following the decision of its current CFO, Steve Mills, to step down for personal reasons. Mr. Diniz will assume the new responsibilities by December 15, 2013, at which time Mr. Mills will transition to an advisory role with the Company. Amyris has begun an executive search to evaluate potential internal and external candidates to permanently fill the position.
"Paulo's proven track record as a CFO for leading companies and his executive leadership as we financed, built, commissioned and now operate our first production facility in Brazil are just some of the strong credentials for his appointment and as we prepare to enter a promising year for Amyris," said John Melo, President & Chief Executive Officer of Amyris.
"Over the last two years, Steve has helped guide us through a difficult restructuring, and has set us on stronger financial footing and a stable growth platform. Steve has built a strong finance and accounting team and established a robust financial discipline within our company. We wish him well as he returns to the Midwest, and the board and I look forward to his continuing counsel," Melo added.
"I am more confident today about Amyris's bright future than ever before, from its inspired science to its breakthrough renewable products. I look forward to continuing to support Amyris through my advisory role, and know Paulo is a eminently prepared for this new stage in Amyris's progress as is the team we have built in California and Brazil," said Mr. Mills.
Mr. Diniz will become Amyris's Chief Financial Officer upon Mr. Mills' resignation. He joined Amyris as President of the Company's Brazilian subsidiary in early 2011, following a successful career as, among other things, the CFO of two agribusiness leaders: Bunge Brasil and Cosan. At Cosan, Mr. Diniz led the successful transformation of Cosan into Brazil's largest sugar and biofuel producer, including its initial public offering and multiple acquisitions that paved the way for Raizen, Cosan's fuels joint venture in Brazil with Shell.
About Amyris
Amyris is an integrated renewable products company focused on providing sustainable alternatives to a broad range of petroleum-sourced products. Amyris uses its industrial synthetic biology platform to convert plant sugars into a variety of molecules -- flexible building blocks that can be used in a wide range of products. Amyris's initial portfolio of commercial products is based on Biofene®, Amyris's brand of renewable farnesene, a long-chain hydrocarbon. Amyris is commercializing these products both as No Compromise® renewable ingredients in cosmetics, flavors and fragrances, polymers, lubricants and consumer products, and also as No Compromise renewable diesel and jet fuel. Amyris Brasil Ltda., a subsidiary of Amyris, oversees the establishment and expansion of Amyris's production in Brazil. More information about Amyris is available at www.amyris.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, and any statements other than statements of historical facts could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future events (such as executive transition plans) that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results and future events may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties, including those associated with any delays or failures in development, production and commercialization of products, liquidity and ability to fund capital expenditures, Amyris's reliance on third parties to achieve its goals, and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" section of Amyris's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2013. Amyris disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Amyris, the Amyris logo, Biofene and No Compromise are trademarks or registered trademarks of Amyris, Inc.
Source: Amyris, Inc.
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