NEW TECH FOODS

Irina Gerry, former chief marketing officer at Change Foods and chair of the Precision Fermentation Alliance, has passed away aged 44.

Her husband Ryan Gerry confirmed that she died on 20 October 2025 following a battle with cancer.

Gerry joined Change Foods in 2020 as one of its founders and served as chief marketing officer until September 2024. During her tenure, she helped establish the company’s brand and communications strategy as it developed dairy proteins through precision fermentation.

She was also a founding member of the Precision Fermentation Alliance, an industry body formed in 2023 to promote transparency and collaboration across the emerging sector. Gerry served as vice chair before being appointed chair of the board of directors in March 2024.

Earlier in her career, Gerry held marketing and innovation roles at Danone North America, leading projects across the Silk and So Delicious brands, and at Procter & Gamble, where she managed digital strategy for Gillette Venus. She also worked as a consultant at Deloitte and held an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Gerry moved to the UK from Russia at 16 before studying at Macalester College in the US.

Her husband described her as a dedicated professional, wife and mother of two, writing: “She left corporate jobs twice – once to start her own company and again to become one of the founders of Change Foods. Irina didn’t just talk a big game; she actually lived it. She was willing to take risks and bet on herself in ways that most cannot."

"She left this world too soon, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and courage that we must carry forward."