Key Takeaways
- S&dB has appointed Maikel Huygens as Chief Technology Officer, effective December 8.
- Huygens joins the leadership team and will guide the company’s next phase of technology innovation and commercial growth.
- He brings engineering experience from Canon Production Printing, including leading R&D programs and holding multiple patents.
- The company’s founder and outgoing CTO, Gerard Otten, will remain a shareholder and continue supporting S&dB as an advisor.
- CEO Ben Stel highlights Huygens’ technical background and commitment to sustainable food systems as key strengths for advancing S&dB’s seed tape technology.
S&dB Announces Appointment of Maikel Huygens as CTO
Experienced Technology Leader Joins S&dB
S&dB has announced that Maikel Huygens joined the company on December 8 as its new Chief Technology Officer, becoming part of the leadership team and taking responsibility for advancing the company’s technology roadmap. In this role, Huygens will help drive S&dB into its next stage of innovation and long-term commercial development.
Huygens is a mechanical engineer with extensive experience working in fast-paced, innovation-driven environments. His background includes leading research and development programs at Canon Production Printing, where he contributed to multiple patented technologies. Alongside his engineering expertise, he brings a strong personal interest in sustainable food production and a commitment to supporting a more resilient agricultural sector.
Leadership Transition and Founder Recognition
Huygens succeeds Gerard Otten, S&dB’s founder and outgoing CTO. Otten will remain a shareholder and will continue supporting the company as an advisor. CEO Ben Stel recognized his contributions:
“Maikel’s personal drive and strong technical background are an excellent fit with our ambition to bring our seed tape technology to the agricultural market. Bringing Maikel on board is another step in accelerating our trajectory towards becoming a commercial company. With Maikel’s appointment we’re also saying goodbye to founder and current CTO Gerard Otten. I would like to thank Gerard for his dedication toward S&dB, which has laid the foundation to where the company is today. We wish Gerard all the best in his new challenge.”
