Beta Bugs appoints Alan Tinch as chief executive.
Beta Bugs has appointed Alan Tinch as chief executive officer, with the appointment set to take effect from February.
The company said the move follows its decision in 2025 to focus exclusively on black soldier fly (BSF) genetics, stepping away from pilot-scale manufacturing operations. Beta Bugs said the shift reflects its assessment of competitive dynamics in the UK BSF market and is intended to position the business around the development of proprietary genetic strains for the global insect protein sector.
Tinch brings more than 35 years of experience in farm animal and aquaculture genetics and breeding. He has been working with Beta Bugs since late 2025, including leading a review of the company’s genetics programme alongside its science advisory board.
“The global BSF industry is scaling rapidly, and demand for genetics that deliver reliable and superior performance is accelerating,” Tinch said. “Beta Bugs has established strong foundational work in BSF genetics, and I’m excited to lead the team as we demonstrate significant improvements in valuable traits and build sustainable trading partnerships with BSF producers worldwide.”
Under the revised strategy, Beta Bugs said it is concentrating resources on developing and validating high-performance BSF strains through internal and external testing, with independent trials currently underway.
Chris Richards, chair of Beta Bugs, said: “Alan’s scientific rigour, commercial acumen, and sector expertise position him perfectly to lead Beta Bugs through this next phase. The Board has complete confidence in his ability to establish Beta Bugs as a leading genetics provider to the global BSF industry.”
