Digestiva, Inc. appoints Julie Hirsch, PhD, as Chief Operations Officer, Strengthening its Leadership in Food Biotechnology
Davis, CA —Digestiva, the leading food biotech company discovering and developing ingredients to amplify the power of protein nutrition in foods and dietary supplements, is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Hirsch, PhD, as its first Chief Operations Officer (COO). Dr. Hirsch brings over two decades of experience in science, technology innovation, team building, and education, in the food and personal care industries.
Digestiva is a first in class food biotech company dedicated to transforming protein nutrition and global health. Digestiva combines a passion for enabling better human health and performance with a game changing technology discovered at the University of California, Davis. The foundation of this technology is a class of enzyme ingredients capable of unlocking the full nutritional value of protein-based foods and dietary supplements.
The Company has raised venture capital from The March Group and Astanor Ventures. Dr. Hirsch is a seasoned leader with deep knowledge of technology, formulations, processing, quality, clinical operations, consumer research, and regulatory affairs. Her expertise in creating technology and product strategies aligned with customer and consumer needs will play a vital role in driving the company’s growth and expansion.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Julie Hirsch as our new COO,” said Justin Siegel, co-founder of Digestiva. “Her extensive technical depth and management experience, knowledge of the food and personal care industries, commitment to innovation and consumer-centricity, and passion for hiring and motivating talent make her ideal to lead our operations as we continue to push boundaries and deliver groundbreaking solutions for the food and consumer health industry.”
Dr. Hirsch’s notable accomplishments include leading global discovery technology and product development teams in both B2B and B2C companies, including Gorton’s Seafood (Unilever), Ingredion, Inc., and Johnson Johnson Consumer Products. Throughout her career, she has built internal teams, as well as established multiple collaborative research partnerships with external experts, government entities, and academia.
As an esteemed educator, Dr. Hirsch has been serving as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Rutgers University Department of Food Science, and Part Time Lecturer, since 2005, teaching undergraduates Food and Health, and sharing her knowledge and passion for the industry.
Dr. Hirsch holds a PhD in Food Science (Engineering) from Rutgers University and a BS in Food Science from Cornell University. In her new role as Chief Operations Officer at Digestiva, Dr. Hirsch will lead all functions to execute operational excellence, as Digestiva is preparing to commercialize its first ingredient. Her academic background, combined with her extensive industry experience, make her the perfect fit to lead the future of Digestiva.
About Digestiva, Inc.
Digestiva, Inc. is a pioneering food biotech company dedicated to transforming protein nutrition. Founded out of the University of California, Davis, Digestiva combines cutting-edge scientific research with a passion for addressing global food challenges. Digestiva, Inc. leverages cutting-edge enzyme discovery and processing, coupled with AI, to develop novel ingredients that unlock the nutritional value and environmental impact of food products. By combining scientific expertise with a deep understanding of consumer needs, Digestiva aims to revolutionize the future of food. The Company raised venture capital from TMG (The March Group) and Astanor Ventures.
