Antonis Kantzelis appointed CEO of Planet Farms Infrastructure

Planet Farms has announced the appointment of Antonis Kantzelis as chief executive officer of Planet Farms Infrastructure, the company established as part of the joint venture with Swiss Life Asset Managers.

His appointment completes the definition of the platform’s management team, marking a further step in the development and consolidation of the business.

The joint venture

The appointment is part of the process launched in April 2025 with the joint venture between Planet Farms Holding and Swiss Life Asset Managers, aimed at developing and managing infrastructure for controlled environment agriculture (Cea) in the Emea region. The platform, which includes the production facility in Cirimido (Como), went through an initial phase with an interim management structure under the leadership of Daniele Benatoff, during which the shareholders and management worked to consolidate the organisational and industrial foundations needed to support the subsequent phase of growth.

The new role

In his new role, Kantzelis will lead the operational management and implementation of Planet Farms Infrastructure’s growth plan with the aim of consolidating the performance of the existing facility, optimising its operational efficiency and cost structure, and accelerating the development of new vertical farms. Strategic priorities also include strengthening commercial partnerships and developing new B2b opportunities aimed at industrial customers in the food, consumer goods and cosmetics sectors.

The comments

"Since the creation of the joint venture with Swiss Life Asset Managers, our shared objective has been to define the leadership team needed to support the long-term success of Planet Farms Infrastructure. We believe that Antonis completes our strong existing team and brings complementary expertise in leadership, finance and growth, preparing the platform for this exciting new chapter of international expansion and continued growth," says Daniele Benatoff, co-founder and CEO of Planet Farms Holding.

Antonis Kantzelis, new CEO of Planet Farms Infrastructure states: "I am excited to join Planet Farms at such an important time. The founders and the team have built a pioneering business, and I would like to thank Daniele for the leadership he has demonstrated and for his support in ensuring a smooth transition. Together with our customers and partners, I look forward to making Planet Farms the benchmark in vertical farming, in Italy and in international markets."

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.