Rick Wilson
10438 Paseo De Linda (858) 312-5045
San Diego, CA 92127
Executive Entrepreneurial Leadership
Organizational Leadership / Startups / Turnarounds / Growth: 20+ years Senior Executive building and turning around businesses across multiple industries. Developed the strategy for a bio-carbon business, built team, invented and patented technology, built manufacturing plant, and launched product. Cash flow positive in three years. Created a JV with a global chemical company to fund a renewable chemical plant. Chemical company was awarded exclusivity to use the technology in South America, in exchange for up to $125M funding. Led Oil company refining and fuels businesses in profit improvement analysis, discovering pricing below international parity levels. Renegotiated swap agreements to price at market, adding $52M in profits. Built high-performance teams as Chief Executive for VC-backed startups, and at VP level at major Chemical and Oil companies. Earned an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago, a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh, and a BA from UC San Diego. San Diego based. Core competencies include:
P&L Responsibility –Market Development - Product Development–Process Development - Contract Negotiations - Supply Chain - Business Plans - Business Startups - Fund Raising -
International Business Development - New Product Introduction - Economic Studies – Price Risk Management - Sales – Trading – Venture Capital– Renewables - Refining
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Developed the strategy for Cool Planet’s bio-carbon product and gained board support for the business plan. Built team, invented CoolTerra™ soil amendment technology, constructed the first manufacturing plant, and launched the product into the market. Results: Cash flow positive within three years, with a total investment of under $6M dollars.
Built a high-performance team in a company with a broken culture, which the “Denison” model assessed in the 13th percentile. Moved to a new building for a fresh start, led by example, developed capabilities by coaching and empowerment, managed conflict, and communicated progress. Results: The team exceeded objectives and achieved an 87% culture score.
Transformed the CoolTerra™ commercial organization to meet the soil amendment revenue goals. Focused sales efforts on quick turnaround markets, localized sales efforts with reps supporting multiple applications, added sales incentives, and increased team size. Results: Revenue goals were exceeded, creating the need for additional manufacturing capacity.
Led a team in a 13-state search for a physical site for Cool Planet’s first fuel facilities. Organized a competitive process, awarded the opportunity to Louisiana for a site in Alexandria. Results: Received $12M in grants, over $60M in incentives, and subsidized natural gas and electric purchase contracts.
Persuaded a consortium of universities and the US forest service to apply for a $10M USDA grant for developing the underpinnings of using pine-beetle-killed trees as input to biofuels facilities. Results: Won the $10M grant, leveraged the USDA relationship to later win a $91M loan guarantee for Cool Planet’s first fuels facility.
Established product off-take agreements for Abengoa’s first renewable chemical plant. Developed a list of prospective off-takers, consolidated my personal contacts, and proceeded to network until I reached decision makers. Results: Received two offers, one take-or-pay including project equity, enabling Abengoa to debt finance the plant.
Focused the commercial strategy for Cobalt on high-value chemicals from low-cost biomass feed. Established a partnership for feedstock technology, engaged a consultant to direct the R&D team in improving biocatalyst conversion, and piloted technology. Results: Doubled biocatalyst conversion, enabling a 40% cost advantage vs. petroleum-based chemicals.
Created a JV with Solvay Rhodia, a global chemical company, to fund Cobalt’s first renewable chemical plant. In exchange for funding, Solvay was awarded exclusive use of the technology in South America, leaving Cobalt to use the designs across the rest of the world. Result. Funding up to $125M upon achieving milestones, without diluting company equity.
Launched new products for BP’s synthetic lubricant business to address growing demand. Used low-cost feedstock to expand margin and increase supply, built manufacturing capacity in the US and Belgium, and partnered with Castrol to introduce the products to the market. Result: Added $27M of profits to the business in the first year, beating Exxon to the market.
Led BP Australia’s refining and fuels marketing businesses in profit improvement analysis. Discovered the region was pricing fuel below international parity prices, and renegotiated industry swap agreements to price at international levels. Results: Immediate margin uplift across BP’s refining and marketing assets adding $52M in profits the first year.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS LEADER AND VP STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPSCool Planet / 2012 - Present
Camarillo, CA
CEO AND PRESIDENT
Cobalt Technologies / 2008 - 2012
Mountain View, CA
VICE PRESIDENT CHEMICALS
Vinmar International / 2006 - 2008
Houston, TX
(Roles culminating in)VICE PRESIDENT - GLOBAL DERIVATIVES
British Petroleum / 1989 - 2006
Various Global Locations
PATENTS
Recent Filings include:
-62/162,219 Enhanced Biochar
-14/286,261 Enhancing Biochar Performance Using Pyrolysis Acid Stream,
-62/058445 Methods, Materials and Applications for Controlled Porosity and Release Structures and Applications
-62/058472 High Additive Retention Biochars, Methods and Applications
-13/932,981 Integrated System and Process for Byproduct Production
PUBLICATIONS & AWARDS
Awards, articles and public releases:
-Edison Gold Award, 2015 for Contribution to Agriculture
-The Guardian; “Cool Planet: Can Biochar Fertilizer Soil And Help Fight Climate Change?”
-Forbes; “Cool Planet: A Company That Makes Biochar And Gasoline.”
-Business Wire; “Cool Planet Begins Commercial Production Of Its Advanced Coolterra Product.”
-Reuters; “USDA Announces Cool Planet And The Biorefinery Alliance Network Of The Rockies Receive $10M Grant.”
-Biofuels Digest; “The Cool of Cool Terra.”
EDUCATION
-MBA (Honors), University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Chicago, IL
-PhD, Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
-BA, Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, CA
TRAINING
-Graduate of British Petroleum’s “High Potential” executive leadership development program culminating in an Executive Level Posting (top 300 among 90,000 employees)
-General Electric Learning and Development Program, Crotonville NY
-Agronomy
MEMBERSHIPS
-NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab)Biofuels Technical Review Panel
-Advisor, Reluceo Holdings
COMMUNITY
-Supports activities for special needs children in San Diego, CA
Professional References Provided Upon Establishment of Mutual Interest