Loam Bio, an agricultural technology firm specializing in microbial and fungal-based products designed to enhance soil carbon capture and storage, has announced a leadership transition as it prepares for future growth and expansion. The company revealed on Wednesday that co-founder Guy Hudson will move from his role as chief executive officer to executive chairman, with American agtech veteran Rob Hranac assuming the CEO position.
Loam Bio, which is headquartered in Orange, Australia, has recently made significant inroads into the United States market, demonstrating the commercial viability of its products for large-scale farming operations seeking to engage in environmental capital markets through carbon credits. This expansion has been supported by notable investors including Mike Cannon-Brookes and Marc Benioff.
Hranac, who brings over a decade of experience in agtech and recently served as chief operating officer at US-based Lithos Carbon, is expected to leverage his expertise to help scale the business. His appointment coincides with Loam Bio’s plans to extend its reach into Brazil, targeting farms that face climate-related challenges such as drought and the threat of El Niño, while offering new revenue opportunities through soil carbon trading.
The executive reshuffle also includes the promotion of Australia-based chief product officer Robbie Oppenheimer to chief operating officer, signaling the company’s intent to maintain strong operational leadership in its home market even as it grows internationally.
Both Hudson and Hranac have emphasized the company’s long-term objective of pursuing an initial public offering, with Hranac expressing a preference for listing on an Australian stock exchange. “Long-term, that’s where we see our North Star … to be a public company,” Hranac said, while acknowledging that the company still faces considerable work in scaling and structuring its finances to meet the demands of a public listing.
Hudson will focus on investor relations and capital development in his new role as executive chairman, a move described as allowing him to concentrate on attracting investment while relieving the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the CEO position.
Loam Bio’s technology, which has helped Australian farmers monetize carbon credits this year, aims to enhance soil moisture retention and carbon storage, aligning with global trends in sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation. The company’s leadership changes and expansion plans position it to capitalize on growing demand for environmental solutions within agriculture markets across multiple continents.