Former Hermès CEO, Patrick Thomas, has been appointed as an independent member of the board of directors at MycoWorks, a biomaterials company based in the United States. With his extensive experience in luxury market leadership, including his role as CEO of Hermès, as well as positions with Lancaster Group and Pernod Ricard, Thomas brings a wealth of expertise to the company.
In addition to his new role at MycoWorks, Thomas also holds prestigious positions as the independent chairman of Champagne Laurent Perrier and the lead director of Teleperformance. His appointment to the board of directors at MycoWorks adds to a team that already includes individuals such as Tjerk de Ruiter, Anders Spohr, Kiersten Stead, and MycoWorks CEO Matt Scullin.
MycoWorks is well-known for its development of Fine Mycelium, a proprietary biotechnology that uses mycelium to grow a natural material that replicates the performance of animal leather but with a reduced environmental impact. This breakthrough in materials science has opened up new design possibilities and provides a solution to existing supply chain limitations.
According to Thomas, the fashion and footwear industries have long desired high-quality alternatives to animal leather. However, while consumer demand for these alternatives has been growing, the transition has been slow. Thomas believes that MycoWorks’ Fine Mycelium technology is the first to meet the industry’s required quality standards, positioning it as the perfect foundation for this expansion.
MycoWorks CEO Matt Scullin expressed his excitement about Thomas joining the board, describing him as a legend in the industry. Scullin believes that Thomas’s expertise in scaling businesses in this space will accelerate partnerships and collaborations, ultimately bringing Fine Mycelium-designed products into the hands of consumers.
Useful links:
1. MycoWorks website
2. Hermès website
