Stéphane Thion

Stéphane has 25-year extensive international experience developing sustainable and innovative renewable energy and chemical solutions for both startups and multinational companies. He conducted business in more than 80 countries while living in the United States, Europe, and China which gives him a deep appreciation of diversity in all forms. Stéphane brings a strong track record in sales & marketing, strategic planning, capital raising, and building partnerships/​alliances (JV).

Prior to joining LanzaJet, Stéphane was heading TotalEnergies Sustainable Aviation Fuels activities since 2019. He led the USD 200+ billion French multinational integrated Energy Company SAF capacity expansions and laid the path to its 2030 1,5Mt ambition. 

Prior to that, Stéphane joined Ingevity. First in Charleston, SC, as Director of Strategy (2016) to support the $1B US-based leading global manufacturer of specialty biochemicals spin from its mother company MeadWestvaco Corporation. Then, later that same year, in Shanghai, China, as Managing Director Asia Pacific where he strengthened regional capabilities and brought sustainable growth to the region.

In 2013, Stéphane worked for Cool Planet, a Denver, CO startup dedicated to establishing sustainable products for the energy, food, and water markets (solid waste and residues pyrolysis to high octane gasoline and biochar). As Director of Strategic Planning and Head of International, he successfully led the company USD 100 million equity raise and created joint ventures (in Singapore and China) to support international deployment of the company technology. 

Prior to that, Stéphane worked at Total for 17 years. He began with the company in 1997 in the Specialty Chemical Division where he held various positions in sales, marketing, and business development, in the US, Latin America, and Europe. In 2010, he joined the Holding Group back in Paris as a corporate auditor where he carried a variety of complex assignments from Exploration Production, Gas Renewable and Power, Refining, Marketing and Services all around the world including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. Beginning in 2011, Stéphane joined the New Energies Division. First as Chief Strategy Officer at AE Polysilicon (owned 30% by Total Energies), a technology solar startup based outside of Princeton, NJ. Then as Head of Strategy and Business Development for the Solar Division, a global responsibility based in Paris. 

Stéphane earned a Master of International Management from ESLSCA, a Grande Ecole in Paris, France and an Executive MBA from Temple University Fox School of Business in Philadelphia, PA. Stéphane speaks French (native language), English (fluent), Spanish (fluent), and Mandarin (intermediate). Stéphane lives outside of Paris with his wife Hanbing and their 4‑year-old child Raphaël.