Axitan appoints seasoned industry leader as CEO
Al Zimmerman joins as CEO while founder Dr. Kane Miller leads expansion of Axitan's tech platform
29 January 2024
3 minute read
By: 
Axitan UK Limited, a leading biotech company focused on the development of endolysin enzyme products to replace antibiotics in animal feed, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alfred (Al) Zimmerman as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Zimmerman brings a wealth experience from the biotech and animal feed additive industries to Axitan. Axitan’s founder and former CEO, Dr. Kane Miller, will continue to lead the expansion of the Company’s technology platform, and associated end-market products, in the newly formed position of Chief Innovation Officer.
Dr Kane Miller, founder and Chief Innovation Officer, said: “Al’s industry insight and proven track record of building businesses within the animal feed sector brings the right balance to Axitan’s senior management team as we transition into the full commercialization phase. His enthusiasm for introducing new technologies and products, combined with his commercial and operating experience, will be instrumental in driving Axitan’s commercialization efforts for our endolysin platform and products.”
Mr. Zimmerman was previously with Novus International from 2015-2023 and recently led innovation growth strategy, business development, acquisitions and alliances. Prior to Novus, Mr. Zimmerman established and led the Dietary Supplement Finished Format Business at DuPont (now IFF).
During his tenure at DuPont, which was focused on developing probiotics for humans and animals, he oversaw the development of the probiotic manufacturing platform within the US and the finished format manufacturing platform globally.
Commenting on his appointment as CEO, Mr. Zimmerman, said: “I am greatly honored to be joining Axitan. Kane and his team have developed an exceptional technology platform based on the Company’s core endolysin expertise. They have likewise developed a solid operational foundation and, in FORC3®, have introduced a ground-breaking product to the market. I look forward to working with them to further advance the platform and accelerate the Company’s commercial development, building on the early momentum already seen from within the livestock industry for its products.”
Since its formation, Axitan’s biotech team pioneered the development and incorporation of endolysins into animal feed as the mechanism of choice for targeting and eliminating pathogens historically managed through antibiotics in animal feed. The Company formulates its endolysins into nutrient rich products to provide material performance benefits to livestock farmers in addition to pathogen mitigation.
Axitan has already successfully developed the ability to express endolysins in microalgae and is currently working on novel bacterial systems to deliver endolysin based solutions with enhanced nutritional health effects for targeting both gram negative and gram positive pathogens. Axitan is focused on developing solution stacks for the monogastric and aqua markets as well as leveraging its platform into other species.
From January 30 to February 1, 2024, Axitan will be exhibiting at the poultry industry’s premier industry event, the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE), Atlanta, Georgia, stand A959, to showcase its poultry products, FORC3® and NMAN®, as well as its Partnership services. To arrange a meeting with Al Zimmerman or Dr Kane Miller at IPPE, please contact [email protected].
