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].
- Bastiaan van Tilburg has been appointed CEO of Skretting, following the announcement the company's former CEO, Therese Log Bergjord, as well as Nutreco CEO Fulco van Lede, were stepping down.
Van Tilburg joined Nutreco in 2019 as general managing in charge of Nutreco's livestock feed business line for Benelux, Scandinavia, and France, then became managing director for Trouw Nutrition Europe and Central Asia in November 2022. Van Tilburg has a background in commercial and operational leadership roles, and previously worked at SHV-owned firm Makro and at Shell Oil.
“For me, it is an immense honor and great pleasure to follow in Therese Log Bergjord’s footsteps at the helm of Skretting,” Van Tilburg said in a release. “I feel a tremendous responsibility to build on her legacy and further expand the positive impact we make with our world-class Skretting brand.”
Nutreco also appointed David Blakemore as Nutreco CEO and Eduardo Lopes Alberto as CEO of Trouw Nutrition.
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to lead Trouw Nutrition and this passionate team as we continue to deliver on our ambition for the company’s next phase of growth and our promise of Feeding the Future,” Alberto said in a release.
Alberto previously worked for seven years at DSM-Firmenich as its vice president of global innovation, and before that as its vice president for the North American region.
Additionally, Nutreco appointed Maarten Bijl as its chief digital officer, a newly created role, effective 1 June. Bijl previously worked as the managing director for Trouw Nutrition North America. He will be responsible for creating new digital strategies, data analytic management, and digitization to accelerate strategies for Trouw Nutrition and Skretting.
“Nutreco recognises the rapid digital developments that are happening in our markets and the world in general,” Nutreco CEO David Blakemore said in a release. “To successfully deliver on our purpose of Feeding the Future and our vision to be the leading partner in nutritional and functional solutions for sustainable farming, Nutreco must lead in the digital transformation of our industry. I’m delighted Maarten has taken on this opportunity for our business.”
- Billund Aquaculture has appointed Kristoffer Lun as CEO, taking over for Christian Sørensen, who will move into an advisory role while remaining involved in daily operations, specifically design, technological development, and project implementation.
“I am thrilled to get this unique opportunity to be a part of a company that is the global leader in the competitive RAS market. I’m excited to be part of this successful team and to contribute to taking the company to the next level,” Lun said in a release.
Lun previously worked for Vestas Aircoil as its group technical director, and has a background in organizational transformation and developing project portfolio tools, product models, and systematic follow-up, according to Billund Aquaculture.
“This new structure is a very important step towards securing the management team the company needs to meet its future development needs, focusing heavily on structure, technology development and a strong control over project implementation," Sørensen said.
- Chesterfield, Missouri, U.S.A-based food and aquaculture development company Bunge Limited announced a restructuring of its leadership team following its USD 34 billion (EUR 32 billion) merger with Viterra.
Bunge CEO Greg Heckman will now lead both companies, with John Neppi appointed as CFO. David Mattiske has been appointed co-COO alongside Julio Garros, Bunge's co-president of agribusiness. As Co-COOs, Garoos and Mattiske will oversee commercial activities including commodity value chains, country and regional structures, centers of expertise, industrial operations, and safety, the company said in a release.
"The future combined company will expand its reach into more crops and countries, offering farmers greater market access and differentiated, value-added solutions in all key origins," Heckman said. "Food, feed, and fuel customers will benefit from a broader product portfolio and expanded global supply options. Creating the co-COO positions ensures we have the right level of leadership focus on the multiple commercial and operational streams so that we identify the strengths of our current organizations and leverage them globally as we come together as 'One Bunge.'"
Bunge was a partner in SB Renewable Oils, which specializes in the production of algae ingredients, including omega-3 rich oil, for aquaculture and animal feed, until it sold its stake in 2018.
- Averoy, Norway-based aquaculture company Nordic Halibut appointed Thomas Scheele Berg as its CFO, effective 1 August.
Berg currently works for Fred Olsen Investments as an investment manager.
"[Berg] will play a pivotal role as a key resource for the company, supporting our vision of sustainable halibut production. His experience will be a valuable asset as we progress forward," Nordic Halibut CEO Edvard Henden said in a release.
- The Northwest Fisheries Association (NWFA), headquartered in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A, has appointed Jana Singleton, Matt Wilbur, and David Miller to its board of directors
Singleton is a senior vice president at Bank of America based in Seattle, and has worked with major banking companies, including Wells Fargo and Rabobank. Wilbur is a national sales representative with Sea Port Products, and Miller is the general manager of Canfisco USA-owned Leader Creek Fisheries, with 30 years of experience working in the Bristol Bay fishing industry.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jana Singleton, Matt Wilbur, and David Miller to our Board of Directors," Northwest Fisheries Association President Lilani Dunn said in a release. "Their diverse backgrounds, in addition to our current officers and trustees, and unwavering commitment to the fishing industry will greatly enhance our ability to provide relevant content to our members."
-James Simon has been named CEO of international advocacy organization Oceana, effective 1 July.
Simon, who joined the company in 2003 as the organization’s president, has supervised Oceana’s campaigns in multiple countries, as well as the global finance, human relations, IT, and law departments, Oceana said in a release.
“I’m thrilled and honored to continue working with Oceana’s talented staff and generous supporters in my new role as CEO,” Simon said in a release. “Oceana will continue to lift up the voices of coastal communities to protect the resources that sustain them and their families. Together with our allies and partners, we will have a global impact on the ocean’s ability to feed people and to provide solutions for addressing climate change, habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and overfishing.”
The appointment follows the eight-month search for replacement of long-time CEO Andrew Sharpless.
-Torben Foss, former deputy director-general of the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has joined the Seafood People Global Executive Advisor Network (GEAN), a a seafood business consulting company.
“I look forward to contributing my insights and experiences towards shaping the future of the industry. While the exact courses of history do not repeat, the lessons we learn provide valuable foresight for the challenges and opportunities ahead," Foss said in a release.
- Jeremy Crawford has been named Asia fisheries director for Ocean Outcomes. Crawford will oversee all Asia-based operations for large- and small-scale fisheries.
“Asia is pivotal in global seafood production, which supports millions of livelihoods and communities as a primary source of income. My upbringing in the region, coupled with my industry and non-profit experience has equipped me with valuable insights to tackle the challenges confronting these fisheries - as I am committed to ensuring their viability and market presence, while safeguarding livelihoods,” Crawford said in a release.
Crawford has an extensive background in the seafood industry working with companies including Thai Union, the National Fisheries Institute Crab Council, and the International Pole and Line Foundation.
- King Oscar, a tinned seafood company based in Bergen, Norway and owned by Thai Union, appointed Lara Berman as its director of marketing and business development.
“Lara's impressive background includes roles with our sister brand, Chicken of the Sea, combining strong industry knowledge with expertise in marketing and brand strategy,” the company wrote on its LinkedIn.
- MacAlister Elliott & Partners, a global consultancy focused on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, has appointed Tracy Murai as technical director. Murai previously worked at Thai Union as its assistant director for global fisheries sustainability.
“I’ve felt passionate about the ocean since I can remember, and my dedication to working with fishing and farming communities, alongside businesses committed to positive change, has only deepened over the years,” Murai said in a release. “Joining MEP presents an opportunity to amalgamate my diverse experiences and contribute to driving meaningful progress in fisheries and aquaculture.”
- Cesar Pinzon has joined human nutrition company Alianza Team, headquartered in Bogota, Colombia, as its business development manager. According to his LinkedIn, Pinzon joined the company in February 2024. Pinzon previously worked as the executive director of Fedacua, Colombia's seafood producers' trade body.
