CEO

John G. Melo is an accomplished entrepreneur, CEO, and board director with over 30 years of global synthetic biology and energy industry experience.

Prior to Digestiva, John was CEO of Amyris, where he played a pivotal role in the industrialization of synthetic biology, a science that involves bioengineering organisms for industrial production. Raising over $2.5B in funding, and achieved a successful IPO with peak equity value of over $5B. Achieved revenue of over $500M annually from zero – and established a business model for monetizing molecules with over $1B in license and collaboration fees by successfully targeting and scaling 14 molecules that are currently consumed by over 400 million consumers daily and represent market share leadership in their respective end markets.

Prior to Amyris, John held various senior executive positions at BP, including most recently serving as President of US Fuels. At BP he had P&L responsibility for fuel marketing, supply chain and petroleum products business. Respected inside BP as an innovative leader with a track record for solving and troubleshooting the biggest & most complex problems inside the company. Established leader with deep knowledge of global fuel markets, global branding and large-scale transformation and M&A integration.

John is fluent in both Portuguese and English and is highly regarded as a writer and speaker. He is frequently quoted in major business publications on topics centering on industrial biotechnology, sustainability, and beauty brand building, health and wellness markets, and digital marketing

President & COO

Julie Hirsch has over 25 years leading global discovery technology and product development teams in food, food ingredients, and personal care for large multinational companies, consultancies, and start-ups. She has a deep knowledge of technologies & ingredients, formulations, processing, quality, clinical operations, consumer research, regulatory. As a leader, she has a passion for hiring and motivating talent.

Julie has been serving as an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Rutgers University Department of Food Science, and Part Time Lecturer, since 2005. She earned a BS in Food Science from Cornell University (NY USA), and PhD in Food Science/Engineering from Rutgers (NJ USA).

In her role as Chief Operations Officer at Digestiva, she plays a vital role in driving the company's operational excellence, fostering innovation and collaboration, and delivering consumer-focused protein nutrition solutions.

She’s the better half of Greg and the official travel planner for her two fabulous twenty-something daughters. As a running enthusiast clocking in over 50 marathons, with her top three being NYC, Jerusalem, and Boston… because running from borough to borough, through ancient streets, and achieving the Boston dream is how she rolls, she strives to bring the blend of commitment, family values, and personal achievement to every aspect of her life.

Co-Founder & CTO

Wilson Mak is an enzymologist and chemist, with over a decade of specialized experience in the realms of enzyme discovery, engineering, and production. His expertise bridges the crucial gap between enzyme science and its functional applications at the bench, connecting them to a commercially viable path that propels products into the marketplace. Wilson's knowledge base spans computational enzyme design and machine learning, extending through wet-lab molecular biology, protein expression, and assay development. This skill set supports a wide array of operations and research & development efforts, essential for transforming bench science into tangible, market-ready products.

Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University - Hawaii. Furthering his academic pursuits, he earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California Davis, with a specific focus on bio-organic chemistry

Head of Nutrition

Emily is a Nutrition and Exercise Scientist with a decade of experience leading Scientific Affairs. Her expertise is bridging the gap between research and development and commercial efforts including leading scientific advisory boards, designing clinical studies, supporting claim substantiation, and creating consumer education.

She has a BA in Exercise Science from Luther College, MS in Exercise Science from South Dakota State University, PhD in Exercise, Nutrition, and Food Science from South Dakota State University, and MBA from the University of Iowa.

Senior Scientist

With four decades in biotechnology, Kevin brings extensive expertise in protein functionality improvement and in the development of gene expression systems for target protein production in microbes and plants.

Notably, Kevin played a pivotal role in co-developing one of the first biotech crops and has invented various improved proteins and gene expression tools. Currently, his efforts are dedicated to crafting novel enzymes to improve protein nutrition.

Kevin has worked for two multinational and four startup companies including molecular breeding pioneer Maxygen. He holds a BS and MS in Food Science from University of California at Davis.

Aside from work, Kevin is passionate about the game of golf which mirrors the precision required at work while serving as a mental reset and sanctuary where he refines his focus and determination. This pursuit of excellence is balanced by the joy and grounding presence of his wife, children, and grandchildren, who inspire him to embrace every moment with purpose and dedication.

Senior Research Associate

Chloe is a Senior Research Associate specializing in assay development and protein-protease digestive screening.

She received a BA in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and four years of experience at Digestiva.

Administration and Operations Manager

Kelley is a seasoned office administrator with over 10 years of experience leading and optimizing office operations in diverse sectors, including construction and funeral health services. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional skill in streamlining administrative processes, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering team collaboration for startups as well as established companies.

She earned her degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a higher degree from California State University Sacramento in Business Management.

Founding Partner, The March Group; Former CSO of Mars

Professor at UC Davis
Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology

Nutrition & Human Clinical Studies Expert
UC Davis Department of Nutrition.

Former CIO of Mars, Inc.

Scientific Advisor

Professor Emeritus
Department of Internal Medicine
The Mars Chair, Developmental Nutrition