David C. Aldous to Join Range Fuels as CEO
Royal Dutch Shell Senior Executive Brings 28 Years of Energy Experience to the CompanyBROOMFIELD, Colo.--Range Fuels, Inc., a company focused on green energy and the production of cellulosic ethanol, today announced that David C. Aldous has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer. Aldous has a broad range of energy, oil and petrochemical experience spanning 28 years. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President Strategy and Portfolio for Royal Dutch Shell in London, where he had responsibility for strategy, mergers, acquisitions, divestments, consulting, global systems, health, safety, security, environmental, and technology for Shell’s downstream business with revenues of more than $300 billion.
"I am excited to join this industry-leading cellulosic ethanol company. I am firmly committed to non-food based renewable energy as an answer to the serious energy, environmental and economic challenges we face. The world needs more energy with less carbon especially in parts of the world where energy demand far exceeds supply like the U.S.," said David Aldous. "Range Fuels is well positioned to be the first to market with a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant and I look forward to leading our company forward."
Aldous also served as President of Shell Canada Products, where he led an $11 billion integrated oil business, with responsibility for leading retailers, refineries, lubricants, aviation, commercial fuels, supply, distribution, pipelines, and brand management. Aldous also brings robust catalysis leadership from his six years as President and CEO at CRI/Criterion, where he led a global catalyst company, with a focus on markets in refining, chemicals, petrochemicals, fuel cells, and natural gas applications.
Mitch Mandich, founding CEO, will continue to support the company as Director of the Board. Mandich helped the company secure more than $80 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and the State of Georgia and more than $100 million in equity. He launched the company on its current path to build the world's first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant near Soperton, Georgia. The first phase of Range Fuels’ plant is scheduled for construction completion in late 2009. Mandich will also be focusing his time on additional board work in the profit and non-profit sectors to advance renewable energy, reduce global warming and drive energy independence.
"It has been a pleasure working at Range Fuels and I am excited about the prospects for our company," said Mitch Mandich. "David has the passion, experience and business acumen to successfully lead the company forward. His deep energy background, industry knowledge and strong leadership skills are valuable assets for Range Fuels and I look forward to working with him on the Board."
Aldous started his career as a process engineer and project manager at Fluor Engineers and Constructors. He has a BS in fuels engineering from the University of Utah and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
About Range Fuels
Range Fuels is focused on green energy and the production of cellulosic ethanol using plant matter (or biomass) that cannot be used for food, is sustainable, renewable and in excess supply. The company's innovative technology converts renewable and sustainable biomass, such as wood chips, paper pulp, olive pits, and more, to ethanol. The company's proprietary K2 system uses a two-step thermo-chemical conversion process. The first step converts the biomass to synthesis gas and the second step converts the gas to ethanol. The company's business model is to design, build, own and operate its plants. The leadership team melds experience from the technologically intensive oil, chemical, petrochemical, coal gasification, power, and gas-to-liquids industries, the renewable fuel industry, and the pulp and paper industry. Range Fuels' vision is to introduce the world to a fuel that's renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly.
Media contact:
Heather Milne
OutCast Communications
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(215) 875-8138