LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis to step down after six years

LanzaJet has not yet named a permanent successor.

Jimmy Samartzis, founding chief executive officer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) company LanzaJet, is stepping down after leading the firm for over six years to take a new executive role in the SAF sector, according to an email sent to company partners and stakeholders.

In the message, Samartzis said he notified the board of his departure earlier this summer and will remain in his post briefly to manage the leadership transition.

LanzaJet has not yet named a permanent successor.

Spun out of carbon capture specialist LanzaTech in 2020, LanzaJet grew under Samartzis from a startup into a major player in low-carbon aviation technology. During his tenure, the company raised approximately $500m from strategic investors, including Suncor Energy, Mitsui & Co., Shell, Airbus, and Southwest Airlines.

Most notably, Samartzis oversaw the development and launch of Freedom Pines Fuels in Soperton, Georgia, which opened as the world’s first commercial-scale biorefinery converting ethanol into jet fuel.

Samartzis, who previously served as an executive at United Airlines, said he plans to share details regarding his next position in the aviation fuel industry following a brief break.