To keep up to date with the latest personnel changes across the seafood industry, SeafoodSource is compiling a regular round-up of hiring announcements and other personnel-related shifts worldwide. If you have an announcement, please send it to [email protected].
- Nancy A. Hann has been promoted within the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps to the role of vice admiral and will also now serve as NOAA’s deputy undersecretary for operations.
The role of deputy undersecretary includes managing NOAA’s national and international operations for oceanic and atmospheric services, research, and coastal and marine services.
“Vice Admiral Hann is an experienced and well-respected leader with an impressive resume of accomplishments," NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said in a release. “I look forward to working with her as a key member of my management team to further advance NOAA’s mission.”
Hann has been a member of the NOAA Corps for over 25 years and has held several roles under the administration, such as executive officer at the NOAA Marine Operations Center-Atlantic, associate director at the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, and NOAA liaison to the U.S. Pacific Command.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as NOAA’s next deputy undersecretary for operations and lead this team of accomplished and dedicated scientists,” Hann said.
Hann is succeeding Benjamin Friedman, who had held the deputy undersecretary position for the past eight years.
- Lima, Peru-based anchoveta fishing and processing firm Pesquera Diamante has announced that Gustavo Delgado-Aparicio has become the company’s new general manager, succeeding Pablo Trapunsky in the role effective 10 June, though Trapunsky will stay with the company until 30 June to ensure a smooth transition.
“This appointment is part of the company's strategy to further strengthen its market position and reaffirm its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the sector,” the company said in a release. “With this appointment, Pesquera Diamante reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the fishing industry and continues to be a leader in promoting sustainable fishing practices.”
Delgado-Aparicio has nearly 30 years of experience in Peruvian financial banking. He held the role of CFO of Pesquera Diamante in 2008 for a brief stint.
- Mercer Island, Washington, U.S.A.-based investment bank ACT Capitol Advisors has launched a Seafood Sector Advisory practice, specializing in providing advice and expertise regarding debt refinancing and restructuring, capital formation, partnerships, and more to the industry's producers, processors, and distributors, among other sector players.
"Seafood is growing in importance as food security and sustainability become paramount. Industry leaders deserve sophisticated advisors that understand the dynamic environments in which they operate," ACT CEO Bob Hild said.
Matt Latimer and Brad Bodenman, who both have experience in the seafood harvesting, processing, and aquaculture and most recently held roles as chief legal officer and chief financial officer of American Seafoods Group, respectively, will lead the initiative.
"We believe seafood companies benefit from high-quality strategic and financial advisory services," Bodenman said. "As a former seafood CFO, I understand keys to financing and growing a successful seafood business by partnering with the right strategic and financial players."
- Lissy Smit has stepped down from her role as CEO of Utrecht, Netherlands-based aquaculture investment firm Aqua-Spark, effective 30 June.
Smit had been serving as the company’s top executive since September 2022.
“I did not come to this decision lightly. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team since I joined, and of our portfolio companies that are transforming the aquaculture industry around the world,” Smit said in a LinkedIn post. “I am stepping away from Aqua-Spark with confidence that the fund is in good hands with an incredibly talented team.”
Aqua-Spark Co-Founder Mike Velings will replace Smits as CEO.
- Rob Binnekamp has become the managing director of feed and animal nutrition company Trouw Nutrition Middle East and Africa, a company under the Nutreco label.
“I am thrilled to be joining such a diverse and dynamic business unit. I am passionate about our purpose of Feeding the Future and with our best-in-class teams and solutions; this region can make a massive difference in pursuit of it,” Binnekamp said in a release. “Our opportunity to grow and innovate in the Middle East and Africa is immense, and we will continue to do this by staying close to our customers and driving our industry forward together.”
Binnekamp has worked at Nutreco for over a decade and has held such roles as general manager of Trouw Nutrition Great Britain and commercial ruminant director at Trouw Europe and Central Asia. He’s replacing Pieter Bastiaanssen in the new role, who moved on to accept the role of managing director at Trouw Nutrition Europe and Central Asia.
- Bergen, Norway-headquartered seafood company Grieg Seafood has appointed Elizabeth Barlow as the regional director of its operations in Newfoundland, Canada, effective 8 July.
“I am glad to have Elizabeth onboard and confident that she is the right person to lead our local team in developing our Newfoundland region gradually and responsibly,” Grieg CEO Andreas Kvame said in a release.
Barlow has over 30 years of experience in the aquaculture industry and particularly has experience working in the Newfoundland and Labrador market. She has held management roles at Mowi Canada East and the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Land Resources.
- Marshall, Minnesota, U.S.A.-based retail and foodservice provider Schwan’s Company has announced it has made Brian Schiegg its new CEO.
Schiegg had, since 2021, been serving as the company’s president of its consumer brands business and will be replacing Dimitrios Smyrnios in the top executive role, which he had held for a decade.
“Brian has the full support and confidence of the company's board of directors and CJ Foods’ leadership to maintain Schwan's momentum and propel our company to even greater heights in the future,” Minsok Pak, chairman of Schwan's Company's board of directors and CEO of Schwan's parent company, CJ Foods, said in a release. “The North American market is critical to our growth strategy, and I personally look forward to working with Brian to achieve our vision of becoming the [top] provider of ethnic cuisine in the U.S.”
- Zurich, Switzerland-based food and beverage manufacturing company Regal Springs has appointed Elena Piana as its new group sustainability manager.
“This role is vital to Regal Springs’ ongoing sustainability efforts and dedication to safeguarding seafood through responsible aquaculture, which have been at the core of our mission since Regal Springs’ inception in 1988,” Regal Springs said in a LinkedIn post.
Piana will directly oversee the company’s blue technology innovation solutions, which the company says safeguards the welfare of its responsibly sourced tilapia, ensuring the continuance of its environmental, social, and governance goals.
Piana has worked in the aquaculture industry for 15 years and most recently has served as the founder and head of crawfish-farming firm NoolaRed, which has grown from its U.K. roots to now grow products and serve the local market in Indonesia.
- Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.-based packaging solutions provider Sealed Air Corporation has announced Patrick Kivits as its new CEO and a member of the company’s board, effective 1 July.
Kivits is leaving his role as president of corrugated packaging at paper and packaging company WestRock. Sealed Air provides packaging services to the seafood industry and other sectors.
- Pembroke, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based seafood company PanaPesca USA has appointed Lesly Konrad as Southeast regional sales manager.
“I'm proud to share my new chapter and investment with PanaPesca USA,” Konrad said in a LinkedIn post. “My novel thickens, and [my] story gains dimension as I christen the first chapter of my time with PanaPesca.”
Konrad has worked multiple roles in the foodservice industry, including at such companies as Sysco and Culver Duck Farms, where she specialized in the Southeast market.
