Pivot Bio, a Griggsville-based agrotech company, has announced the appointment of Travis Frey as the company’s Chief Technology Officer. He takes over the position following the retirement of Ernie Sanders, a longstanding figure in the agricultural sector. In his new role, Frey will oversee global research and development, science, and innovation initiatives at Pivot Bio, which has been recognized by Fast Company in 2024 as one of the world’s most innovative companies and by Time magazine as one of the top Greentech firms globally.
Travis Frey will report directly to Chris Abbott, Chief Executive Officer of Pivot Bio, and will be based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Wayzata, Minnesota. He also joins the company’s executive leadership team.
Commenting on the appointment, Abbott noted Travis Frey’s extensive experience in developing and implementing agricultural technologies across vast acreages, highlighting his ability to drive science-based advancement across organizations. Abbott expressed confidence in Frey’s ability to align with the company’s strategic vision and deliver on its product development roadmap.
“We are excited to welcome Travis to the Pivot Bio team. He has a proven track record of developing and deploying new technology in agriculture across hundreds of millions of acres. As a strategic leader known for bringing science-backed innovation to every organization he has been part of, I am confident he will bring that same spirit of innovation to Pivot Bio as we focus on our strategic road map with new and transformative products.”
Extensive Experience Across Agtech and Life Sciences
Travis Frey brings a wealth of experience in scientific research and development, having held roles at major global corporations as well as emerging ventures. His career spans work at Monsanto, where he held several leadership positions and contributed to technological advancements and intellectual property development in agriculture. He later served as Vice President of Science and Innovation at WISErg Corporation.
Frey’s expertise was further demonstrated during his tenure as Chief Technology Officer at Calyxt, where he led the company’s initiatives in gene-edited crops. He played a key role in the successful reverse merger between Calyxt and Cibus, subsequently taking on the role of Executive Vice President to shape post-merger corporate strategy and oversee the sustainable products division. Throughout this period, Frey was instrumental in securing over US$ 30 million in public market funding.
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More recently, Frey served as Chief Technology Officer at Mindful Care, a healthcare growth company, where he expanded his leadership experience beyond agriculture and into the health sector.
Academic Background and Intellectual Contributions
Travis Frey holds a Bachelor of Science in horticulture from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park), a Master of Science in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a Ph.D. in plant biology and biotechnology from the University of Delaware and Dupont/Pioneer. He also earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2018.
Throughout his career, Travis Frey has been widely published and holds numerous patents related to seeds, plant health, packaging, and genetic technologies designed to enhance crop yield and resistance to disease. His work reflects a comprehensive understanding of agricultural science, business strategy, and technological development.
With this appointment, Pivot Bio reinforces its commitment to scientific advancement in agriculture, underscoring its investment in leadership capable of steering the company’s future innovation and product development efforts.
