AquaBounty’s Richard Clothier retires, Steve Murrells named CEO of Hilton Food

To keep up to date with movement and job shifts across the seafood industry, SeafoodSource is compiling a regular round-up of the latest industry job moves.

- Steve Murrells has been named CEO of U.K.-based food supplier Hilton Food, This Money UK reports. Prior to joining Hilton, Murrells worked as the CEO of The Co-op for almost a decade, according to his LinkedIn.

- Shrimp genetics company American Penaeid, headquartered in Saint James City, Florida U.S.A., appointed Chelsea Andrews as the vice president of its Asia division.

“In this new role, I will lead API’s expansion in the region, while continuing to pursue my goal of bringing positive change to the seafood industry,” Andrews posted on her LinkedIn profile. Andrews comes bearing seven years of experience working at aquatech company XpertSea.

- AquaBounty Technologies announced on 30 March the retirement of its chairman, Richard J. Clothier, Citybiz reports. He served on the company’s board of directors beginning in 2006.

“I am honored to have served as chairman of AquaBounty, an industry pioneer and innovator that successfully developed and brought to market the first-ever FDA-approved genetically engineered animal for human consumption," Clothier said. "AquaBounty is in an exciting phase with the construction of its new farm in Pioneer, Ohio, well underway. I retire with full confidence in the management and the board to continue the company’s progression with its high standard of operational expertise.” 

- Girona, Spain-based frozen seafood company EasyFish announced Josep Masalleras has been hired as its U.S.-based chief commercial officer. He is charged with pioneering the firm's U.S. commercial strategy and leading its U.S. sales team and international expansion strategy.

“A couple of things struck me when I first visited the EasyFish HQ offices. First, I really enjoyed the company’s culture, which I could clearly capture in the multiple interactions with all the team members," Masalleras said. "Transparent, open, curious, straight to the point, listening to questions and feedback. Everybody treated me as part of the team right away, and it felt amazing. There is a strong sense of trust [and] willingness to exchange and learn from each other, which fits my own value-set.” 

- The London, U.K.-based Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) headquartered appointed Nova Seas Board Chair Aino Olaisen to its own board of directors. Oliasen will serve as the board's co-chair.

“The landscape in which we operate is continuously changing, whether in the water where we raise our fish, or in day-to-day business operations. I truly believe that the only way we can build a sustainable future for the industry with longevity, is by working together to share experiences and knowledge so we can continue producing healthy food in the most sustainable way possible,” Olaisen said in a press release. “The challenges we face today, from climate change to fish welfare, are simply too big to solve alone. We must collaborate to find the most impactful solutions, and GSI offers a proven model for its members to help identify and implement sustainability improvements and provide a unified voice to stakeholders to share our journey.”

- Tokyo, Japan-based Kyokuyo announced the retirement of its executive vice president and former managing director, Ken Sakai.

Photo courtesy of Steve Murrells/LinkedIn