Leading sustainable biosurfactant manufacturer Holiferm appoints Charles Dimmler as
CEO to spearhead global expansion and commercial development. Founder and former
CEO Ben Dolman transitions to Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), focusing on technology
advancement.
Founded in 2018, Holiferm utilises patented fermentation technology to produce eco-friendly
biosurfactants for household and personal care products. Following a successful Series B
funding round in 2023, securing £18.5 million, Holiferm has scaled up international sales and
production, enhancing its commercial plant capacity in Wallasey by 1.5 times to 1.65KTA.
Holiferm’s innovative approach ensures capital-efficient scaling, making biochemicals costcompetitive with petrochemicals. The recent launch of GranuSurf, a granulated biosurfactant,
expands product applications, offering high-performance, sustainable solutions in homecare
and I&I.
Ben Dolman, Founder and CIO, reflects on the company’s journey: “Holiferm was founded with a
mission to make the manufacture of chemicals cleaner and greener through the elimination of
petrochemicals at an affordable price. We’re as ambitious as ever about that mission and I’m
incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made in the last 24 months since opening our first
commercial plant. We’re seeing huge interest from the market, so together with the Board, I’ve
decided the time is right for me to focus my efforts on the development of our technology and
hand the reins over to an experienced commercial leader to drive the business forward as we
look to enter new markets in the US and Asia. I believe Charles is the right person to lead
Holiferm into the future, helping us to secure future financing and grow our commercial
development.”
Charles Dimmler, with nearly 30 years of experience in biotechnology and sustainable materials,
is poised to lead Holiferm’s mission to disrupt the market and eliminate petrochemicals. His
leadership aims to achieve the company’s target of 15M tonnes per annum by 2035.
As CEO and Co-founder of Checkerspot, he raised over $100 million and commercialised
materials biomanufactured with microalgae. Prior to Checkerspot, he served as SVP of
Corporate Development at Solazyme, leading strategic transactions totalling over $680 million,
including a $220 million IPO
Investment partners from Clean Growth Fund, ICOS Capital and Rhapsody Venture Partners
expressed confidence in Dimmler’s ability to drive Holiferm’s significant international growth.
Jason Whaley, partner at Rhapsody, comments, “With scaled manufacturing at low cost, and
commercial take-up accelerating, Holiferm is poised to transform the chemical industry for the better.
Attracting someone of Charles’s calibre to lead the company is a testament to what the
team has built and its potential for global impact. His extensive experience leading high-growth
companies will be invaluable in making Holiferm the leading company in the bioeconomy and a
leader in transitioning the chemical industry to a sustainable footing.”
Charles Dimmler, CEO of Holiferm, said: “The key to transforming any industry is delivering
superior products that win on price and performance first. What drew me to Holiferm is their
award winning technology, established manufacturing plant and the exceptional team and their
thoughtful, pragmatic approach to the chemicals market. This sets us up with the right
foundation to grow. Our goals are clear: to expand our global footprint, particularly in US, Asian
and Latin American markets, while scaling our manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand
and supply chain security concerns. The chemical industry needs better solutions, and
Holiferm’s approach—prioritizing performance and economics—is exactly what the market is
responding to.”
Contact:
Andrew Hardwick: andrew.hardwick@holiferm.com
www.holiferm.com
