Apple and Intel veteran Michael Bell joins Chemify

A former Apple vice president who was involved in the creation of the iPhone has joined one of GRID’s top spin-out companies. 

Michael Bell, who has been appointed by Chemify as its Chief Technology Officer, comes with decades of experience at the highest level in the digital computing industry. 

As a well-known technology veteran, Bell helped lead the creation of the Apple iPhone and the launch of Intel’s mobile devices.  

The hope is his arrival at Chemify will help accelerate the capabilities of the company’s digital chemistry platform and the world’s first chemical programming language. 

Scaling up

Chemify is a deep tech chemical science company that is combining chemistry, robotics and AI at scale to digitally design, discover and make new molecules. 

• Chemify founder and CEO Professor Lee Cronin

The company was spun out of the University in 2023 in which time it has secured tens of millions of pounds in investment and increased its workforce to in excess of 100 scientists and staff. 

Dr Lee Cronin, CEO and co-founder of Chemify, said: “At Chemify, we’re scaling up to show the world our capacity to design and make an infinite number of new molecules with chemputation. 

“Michael understands the strength and scale of our vision and will help get us there.” 

During his tenure at Apple of over 15 years, Bell led multiple divisions as a vice president, improving the company’s software and hardware capabilities and steering the creation and launch of the iMac computer and Apple iPhone, revolutionising the computer and mobile device industries. 

Prior to joining Chemify, Bell was senior vice president of digital at Lucid Motors, leading software development. He also spent time at Rivian Automotive, where he served as chief technology officer, and Silver Spring Networks as chief executive officer.  

Bell was a vice president at Intel for more than five years, responsible for the company’s mobile division, and senior vice president of product development at Palm, where he advanced the company’s PalmPre mobile device. 

“I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to choose what organisations I’d like to work for, and what problems I want to address, and Chemify’s potential to change the world is unmatched,” said Bell.   

“Chemify has the talent and technology to truly put a dent in the universe, and I’m happy to be joining their team and bring some high-tech talent to their efforts to digitise chemistry.”