Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

Benjamin Cassou is a Franco-American entrepreneur and Co-Founder and CEO of ReStalk. Since launching the company in 2018, he has led its development into an international circular materials group with projects and partnerships across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Benjamin oversees ReStalk’s global strategy, project development, capital formation, and public-private partnerships. Before ReStalk, he co-founded Caduceus Media, a MedTech company developing digital video systems for operating rooms and intensive care units, following more than a decade in film and media production. His background combines entrepreneurship, technology, storytelling, and cross-cultural leadership.

Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder

Lucas Hildebrand is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of ReStalk, with a proven ability to lead cross-functional growth, marketing, and business initiatives for global brands including Walmart, Apple Music, and Amazon.

He combines deep experience in brand development, market expansion, and business growth with a focus on sustainability, regenerative manufacturing, and emerging technologies. At ReStalk, Lucas brings commercial leadership, brand-building expertise, and a broad professional network to help shape the company’s growth strategy, strategic partnerships, and market position. His work helps translate ReStalk’s environmental mission and technical capabilities into a clear, compelling, and commercially relevant global brand.

Chief Development Officer & Co-Founder

Kyle Tracey is a serial entrepreneur, product innovator, and Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer of ReStalk. He brings more than a decade of experience identifying emerging market opportunities, developing patented products, building brands, and creating the commercial channels needed to scale new ventures.

At ReStalk, Kyle leads business development and supports the company’s international expansion through strategic partnerships, customer relationships, and market development. He works closely with ReStalk’s regional teams and commercial partners to connect the company’s technology and manufacturing capabilities with meaningful opportunities in sustainable packaging and next-generation materials.

Managing Director, Tamil Nadu

Mr. Ponnusamy K serves as Managing Director of ReStalk’s operations in Tamil Nadu, bringing more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing and industrial operations across South India. He oversees plant operations, quality, financial stewardship, and local governance, helping ensure that production remains safe, efficient, reliable, and commercially disciplined.

With a practical understanding of factory management and regional manufacturing, Ponnusamy plays a central role in scaling ReStalk’s molded fiber operations in India. He works to maintain production standards while strengthening operational systems, supporting local employment, and building the foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

His disciplined approach to management helps connect ReStalk’s global circular-materials strategy with consistent execution on the ground in Tamil Nadu.

Chief Operating Officer

With over 40 years of leadership in the paper and converting industry, Mike Schock brings unparalleled operational and technical expertise to ReStalk. His distinguished career includes key roles at major corporations such as Westvaco, Weyerhaeuser, and Sonoco, where he oversaw large-scale manufacturing and global supply chain operations. Mike’s experience spans the full spectrum of materials: from linerboard and SBS to molded pulp and innovative non-wood pulps derived from agricultural sources like wheat straw. A proven leader in process optimization, quality control, and Six Sigma methodologies, Mike has driven efficiency and sustainability initiatives that set new industry benchmarks. At ReStalk, he applies this deep expertise to scale production, enhance quality assurance, and implement advanced operational systems that support the company’s mission to create sustainable, high-performance packaging solutions.

Chief Financial Officer

Gregg Bigger is a seasoned financial executive with a distinguished record in corporate finance, banking, and public company leadership. As former CEO and Chairman of QS Energy Inc. and President of Santa Barbara Bancorp, Gregg has guided organizations through complex capitalization strategies, mergers, and regulatory environments. He also founded and led The Bank of Santa Barbara, where his strategic vision and disciplined financial management resulted in strong growth and a successful acquisition. Gregg’s expertise spans corporate governance, capital formation, investor relations, and strategic financial planning. His forward-looking approach and deep understanding of financial markets provide the foundation for ReStalk’s fiscal strength and long-term growth strategy. Gregg plays a critical role in ensuring that ReStalk remains financially agile and well-positioned to expand its leadership in sustainable materials innovation.

ASEAN Lead, Business Development

Shaz is an entrepreneur, strategist, and investor focused on building ventures where impact and profitability move in lockstep. Having founded and exited companies in tech customization and consumer products, and advised startups across India, Singapore, and the U.S., he specializes in turning early-stage potential into scalable, market-ready businesses. His work in education and edtech, combined with executive training in Education Leadership and Management at Harvard, gives him a systems-level lens on how ideas grow into institutions. At ReStalk, Shaz leads ASEAN business development, weaving together circularity, market expansion, and values-driven execution–grounded by years of hands-on work in policy, philanthropy, and community support across Asia.

Business Development, Tamil Nadu

Gokul Anand drives business development for ReStalk in Tamil Nadu, bringing strong experience in sales, partnerships, and supply chain logistics. He focuses on identifying high-value customers, structuring win–win commercial agreements, and building the regional networks needed to scale production and distribution. With a sharp understanding of both local markets and global sustainability demands, Gokul plays a key role in connecting ReStalk’s molded fiber and specialty pulp solutions with brands, distributors, and institutional buyers who are ready to move away from plastics and toward circular, plant-based materials.

Comptroller & Analyst

Daniel is a numbers-first strategist who brings financial rigor and environmental purpose together at ReStalk. With a background spanning small business banking at JPMorgan Chase and consulting roles supporting startups and international entrepreneurs, he’s spent his career decoding complex financial systems into clear, actionable insights. Armed with an MBA in Accounting and deep experience in financial modeling, compliance, and analysis, Daniel ensures ReStalk’s growth is both disciplined and aligned with its mission to protect endangered habitats and build a truly sustainable business.

Plant Manager

Mallikarjun Badiger manages ReStalk’s plant operations with a focus on eco-friendly food service manufacturing. He oversees production planning, team supervision, and on-the-floor quality control to ensure that every molded fiber product meets stringent performance and safety requirements.With a background in running high-volume, sustainable packaging lines, Mallikarjun specializes in streamlining processes, minimizing waste, and maintaining consistent output–making him a critical link between ReStalk’s material innovation and reliable, day-to-day delivery for customers.

Paul Foulkes is a seasoned sustainability and circular-economy leader with more than 37 years of experience in industrial design, sustainable innovation, and strategic growth. His expertise spans NextGen fibre recycling, biomaterials, novel beverages, AI-enabled circularity, and advanced material development—helping companies turn sustainable ambitions into scalable, measurable impact. Paul has worked with major global brands across Europe and the USA, delivering transformational projects in food & beverage, apparel and footwear, and packaging. His approach blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, enabling founder-led organizations to adopt sustainable materials while staying commercially strong. His depth of experience strengthens ReStalk’s mission to scale regenerative, circular materials worldwide.

Mikko Ruuska is a mission-driven industrial strategist focused on scaling pragmatic, cost-effective, and high-impact solutions that defossilize global supply chains. With nearly 20 years of experience across process optimization, industrial technology, and global project sales, he brings a rare combination of engineering clarity, commercial insight, and systems-level thinking to the team. At ReStalk, Mikko advises on technology selection, line design, and performance optimization for each Agri-Hub, ensuring that every system is engineered for both near-term reliability and long-term scale. His emphasis on geographic hotspots: where feedstock, technology, and end-market demand converge, helps transform circular material concepts into bankable, industrial-grade production models. Mikko believes in creating global prosperity while reducing pressure on forests and finite resources. His pragmatic yet inspirational approach strengthens ReStalk’s mission to accelerate a fast, scalable, and transformative shift toward bio-based materials worldwide.

Frank Klemens brings deep venture and technology-commercialization expertise to ReStalk. He is the Managing Director of the Generation Food Rural Partners Fund (GFRP) at Big Idea Ventures, where he leads the evaluation of university-developed IP and builds new companies in the Food, Protein, and Agriculture sectors—anchored in rural communities to drive job creation and economic growth. Frank previously served as Managing Director of DuPont Ventures and Director of Licensing at DuPont, overseeing strategic investments, technology sourcing, and licensing across biotech, food ingredients, nutrition, electronics, IoT, machine learning, and advanced materials.Frank’s blend of scientific depth and venture leadership strengthens ReStalk’s strategic path as it scales circular, bio-based materials globally.