Cibus Inc. (NASDAQ: CBUS) appointed Craig Wichner as chief executive officer as part of a succession planning strategy, the agricultural technology company announced. Wichner, who joined the company's board in November 2025, replaces Peter Beetham, who served as interim CEO for 15 months and will continue as president and chief operating officer.

Wichner is founder and managing partner of Farmland LP, a farmland investment management firm with more than $350 million in assets and over 19,000 acres under management. He established the firm in 2009 and has focused on regenerative and organic farming practices. Both Wichner and Beetham resigned from the board as part of the reorganization.

During Beetham's interim leadership, the company raised over $62 million in new investment while preparing for initial commercialization targets. Mark Finn, chairman of the board, cited Wichner's financial experience and industry knowledge as factors in the appointment.

Cibus develops plant traits using gene editing technology and licenses them to seed companies for royalties. The company operates what it calls the Trait Machine process, which edits plant cells to add desired characteristics rather than using traditional crossbreeding methods. The technology was recognized by Fast Company Magazine as one of the most innovative products in 2024.

The San Diego-based company focuses on productivity traits for major global row crops and positions itself as a technology provider rather than a seed company. Its gene editing platform aims to develop plant traits faster and at lower cost compared to conventional breeding methods.