Max Jönsson is Chairman of Nykomb, one of the owners of Chemrec. He has a finance background and has previously held senior positions in the development, financing and operation of independent power production projects. He has founded and led the start-up of the HyHeat energy recovery technology company, whose technology won the Swedish Environmental Innovation of the year award in 2009.“The Board of Chemrec is confident that Max Jönsson will provide strong and effective leadership to Chemrec, as it moves to the next level,” says Bernard Bulkin of Vantage Point Venture Partners, Chairman of Chemrec.Rick LeBlanc led Chemrec through the past year, in which considerable progress was achieved towards the goal of commercialization of Chemrec’s technology for gasification of black liquor and production of motor fuels. With the company’s current big projects taking place in Europe, the pressure of extensive time away from his home and family in the US made it difficult for LeBlanc to continue as CEO.“We are sorry to lose Rick Le Blanc” continues Dr Bulkin, “but recognize the pressures on him.”Chemrec is a Swedish company providing technology for black liquor gasification, which, integrated in pulp mills, provides the opportunity to produce large quantities of renewable motor fuels or electricity from biomass.