Barramundi Group hit with board exodus; Odd Lorentz Strom joins Seafood People

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 position-shift updates.

- Four members of The Barramundi Group's board of directors have stepped down, following the company's  posting of continued losses in 2022. Johannes Cornelis Antonius den Bieman, Andreas von Scholten, Marit Solberg, and Sjoeberg Tristan Nenne have resigned effective as of 12 May, 2023, the company announced in a press release. Von Scholten previously served as the company's CEO but was replaced in October 2022 by James Kwan.

In its unaudited 2022 results, the Singapore-based barramundi farmer, which sold its Australia farms in January 2023, posted a loss of SGD 19.7 million (USD 14.7 million, EUR 13.5 million). Two other board directors, Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin and Junaidi bin Haji Masri, were replaced on the company's board in October 2022.

-  Inverness, Scotland-based seafood equipment and technology company Gael Force Group has appointed Craig Graham as its customer service director. Graham has more than a decade of customer service experience with the company, pioneering the company in the marine technology sector, Gael Force Group said in a release.

“One of the cornerstones of our strategy is to establish a service and support package along with extended warranties that are unmatched in the sector.  I am looking forward to leading that project forward, with the great team we already have and are building upon, Graham said. “We have always taken pride in offering what we hope is considered a high level of customer service and fast response times. The challenge to ourselves is to elevate that level even further and demonstrate to our customers how Gael Force can differentiate ourselves through the delivery of higher levels of service and support which can add value and lower costs in our customers’ operations."

- Amund Fjortoft has been appointed as the CEO of Leknes, Norway-based Insula AS. According to his LinkedIn profile, he joined the company in May 2023.

 -Atlit, Israel-based RAS system producer BioFishency announced on 19 April it has named Ohad Maiman as board chair. Maiman is the former CEO of The Kingfish Company, and founder and managing partner of AquaFounders Capital, the company said in a press release.

 "Few components in a RAS system are as critical as the filter unit, and replacing the biofilter with an electro-chemical process eliminates crucial uncertainties, and holds the promise of disrupting the sector by significantly improving reliability and efficiency," Maiman said in a release. "Recognizing the inherent value of BioFishency's innovative water treatment solutions, their in-depth understanding of market requirements, and the company's skilled and professional team, prompted my decision to get on board. I am confident that BioFishency is poised to deliver on its immense potential, and I look forward to working with management and the board to support the company as it builds on its strong foundation and expands its operations around the globe."

-The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced on 11 May it has added Andrew Rosenberg and Ben Gilmer to its board of directors. Rosenber is president of MRAG Americas, a consulting company focused on sustainable fisheries and marine resource management, and the convening lead author of the oceans chapter of the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment. Gilmer is the associate director of The Nature Conservancy's Large-Scale Fisheries Program, and serves as chair of the ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ben and Andy to the ISSF Board. Their extensive knowledge and experience in fisheries and environmental conservation make them valuable additions,” ISSF President Susan Jackson said. “We are confident that their insights will help us continue to develop and adopt sustainable practices and policies that will benefit tuna fisheries, the world’s oceans, and the people who depend on them.”

- Odd Lorentz Strom has joined Bergen, Norway-based seafood business consulting company Seafood People. Strom joined the company after more than a decade as the CEO of Nova Sea, a seafood company based in Nordland, Norway. 

“I have been fortunate to be part of the aquaculture industry as a leader and investor for decades. As the industry needs to continually master the fundamentals like maximizing production, mortality, and biological issues, they need to think innovatively. Norway, in particular, has unique challenges like navigating the new tax framework and political environment. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with current and future leaders to help execute their strategies,” Strom said in a press release.

-Bergen, Norway-based seafood company Grieg Seafood announced it has hired Nina Stangeland as chief strategy officer. Strangeland will begin in her new role on 1 September, 2023.

“I see Grieg Seafood as an ambitious company with a motivating culture – that aims to develop and grow their position as a leading seafood company in a sustainable way. For me, this is an opportunity to combine my passion for this industry with my experience and competence in strategy and business development. I really look forward to joining the Grieg Seafood team and take part in their exciting journey,” Stangeland said. 

- Nashville, Tennessee U.S.A.-based Captain D’s seafood restaurant announced on 9 May that Steve Bailey has joined the company as its new director of franchise development. Bailey joined the company bringing more than 20 years of industry experience and worked at Fazoli’s for six years. 

"Besides occupying a unique seafood niche in the fast-casual industry, Captain D's sets itself apart as a leader in fostering strong relationships with its franchisees and employees. I'm honored to be a part of the future of this brand and to join Brad Reed and Steve Bielewicz in charting the course for expansion," Bailey said.

- Beaverton, Oregon, U.S.A.-based SEA Crab, a seafood-focused restaurant chain, has made three hires, the company announced in a press release. James Waldner has been named vice president of operations, Jereme Roach has joined as general manager of the company's Beaverton location, and Jeff Brandon has joined as business operations representative.

Photo courtesy of Seafood People