SAN DIEGO, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced the appointment of Jeff Webster as Chief Operating Officer (COO).  In this role, Mr. Webster brings more than 28 years of broad industry experience across biotech, renewable energy, agriculture, and oil & gas, including setting strategic direction and leading implementation of successful new business initiatives for industry leading companies such as Solazyme and Tyson Foods' Renewable Products Division.  At Sapphire Energy, he'll oversee current and future business operations, business and project development and corporate affairs.    

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"From its executives to scientists to engineers and more, Sapphire Energy has established itself as one of the most powerful entities behind the progression of algae biology science, technology and industry," said Cynthia 'CJ' Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy.  "Jeff's extensive background in developing and managing successful business initiatives for newly emerging markets makes him a great addition to our team, and I'm certain he'll play a crucial role in helping to drive the company forward as we move towards the commercialization stage of our Green Crude Farm initiative and beyond."

Prior to Sapphire Energy, Mr. Webster served as COO at Solazyme (NASDAQ: SZYM), an algal-based renewable oil and bioproduct company, where he was responsible for leading in-market business units and multiple administrative functions.  Prior to that, he served as GVP and GM of Renewable Products – Tyson Foods, a major division of Tyson that manufactures and sells ingredients into the human, pet, and animal feed markets, where he established new growth platforms, partnerships and brands, while pioneering the company's efforts into the renewable energy space.  He also created multiple business ventures, while successfully securing legislation for next-generation renewable fuels, including the landmark partnership with ConocoPhillips that established new ways for agricultural companies to partner with refiners in second generation fuels.  Additionally, he was responsible for initiating, funding, and building North America's first stand-alone, commercial scale, advanced biofuels facility via Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint venture between Tyson and Syntroleum.

Mr. Webster was also formerly CEO at Carmichael Training Systems, an endurance training start-up company.  Earlier in his career, he held various management positions within engineering,  market research, finance, and ultimately as vice president of Global Strategy & Development at Kellogg Co., where he was responsible for portfolio, market entry, and brand strategy initiatives.  He began his career as a Geophysicist with ARCO.  He holds a B.S. in Geophysics from Michigan State University, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Executive Development Program.

About Sapphire Energy

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude production – with the potential to profoundly change America's energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire's products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently operating the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in Columbus, New Mexico. For more information, visit www.sapphireenergy.com or

SOURCE Sapphire Energy, Inc.