Kris Wadrop

Kris is the General Manager – Commercial Operations.

As GM Kris provides leadership across a number of functions within CPI. Kris works with Arun Harish, CPI’s Strategy Director, in developing the operating models and mobilisation of CPI’s “Step Out” strategies, progressing to taking full accountability for the delivery phase of the new Business Units as they are created.

Kris supports Yvonne Armitage, Business Unit Director for Biotechnology, in the delivery of CPI’s Food and Feed and Agritech strategies that are integral in the execution of the UK’s Bioeconomy strategy from its base at the Wilton Centre, Redcar.

Kris also leads the Business Development function in CPI working alongside Stuart Cornelius, Group Business Development Director, to drive CPI’s top line commercial growth. He is also accountable for the Operations function that oversees the Facilities Management of CPI’s various campuses and Asset Engineering Team.

Kris joined CPI in 2015 as Technical Programme Director developing the Biotechnology strategy for CPI and securing long term partnerships with customers such as Calysta LLC; Kris became the Director of Biotechnology in 2016 from which time he has helped steer the National Strategy to a sustainable and prosperous future for UK manufacturing. Kris is a member of the Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum (IBLF); the IBLF is the collaboration between UK Government and Industry to drive the UK’s Bioeconomy.

Prior to joining CPI Kris was a customer through an SME he founded; he used this experience to drive a culture of Continuous Improvement within the Biotechnology business unit. The latter half of Kris’ career has been in SME’s driving fundraising in combination with technology and project development; the first half was in ICI. Whilst at ICI Kris was held both operational management and technology management roles across a range of sites stretching from Indonesia to the USA making the essential ingredients for everyday products used in detergents, lubricants and clothing.

Kris’ entrepreneurial spirit and drive for results enables him to see the big picture whilst designing a tactical plan to deliver near term results; Kris’ ability to join the dots and take existing technology into new applications and markets often allows step changes in cost-effectiveness or revenue growth.