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Michael Knauf |
Mr. Knauf is responsible for the company’s Bioindustrials Business Unit, which uses Codexis’ proprietary biocatalyst technology to create novel, cleaner and more economical manufacturing methods for energy and industrial chemical products. He leads the company’s strategic relationship with Shell in biofuels.
Mr. Knauf has more than 20 years experience in sustainable energy development operations, including management of high growth fuel ethanol enzyme and fermentation ingredient businesses and relationships with major industrial products manufacturers. He joined Codexis from Lallemand Specialties, where he was General Manager of the Ethanol Technology business unit. Previously, he served for nearly 20 years with Genencor, where he rose to Director and Industry Manager for Fermentation Alcohol Enzymes. While at Genencor, he was responsible for the company’s fuel ethanol enzyme business, played a lead role in obtaining a $17 million U.S. Department of Energy contract for advanced cellulose development in 2000 and initiated Genencor’s biomass applications program. Mr. Knauf holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and biophysics and a master’s degree in food science from the University of California-Davis.