Arctic Fish names new CFO, COO; InnovaSea hires Rudi Seim as managing director

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].

-Ísafjörður, Iceland-based Arctic Fish Holding has appointed John Gunnar Grindskar as COO, effective 1 December. 

Grindskar began his aquaculture career at Mowi Norway as a site manager at Hitra in 1992. Since then, Grindskar has worked in multiple positions Norway's salmon-farming sector.

“Iceland is a new farming region, with growing volume and significant growth potential going forward," Grindskar said in a release. "I am very excited to take part in the development of Arctic Fish into the leading farming company in Iceland. The company has a well-established and unique value chain, from smolt to sales. Developing the organization and securing best practice will be an important part of my role and I am excited to get started on these tasks."

Arctic Fish also announced the appointment of Baldur Smári Einarsson as CFO, effective 1 January, 2024. Einarsson has been with Arctic Fish since October 2019, where he began as a financial controller. 

“To be trusted with such a key role is a huge vote of confidence and means a lot to me. Arctic Fish is a leading salmon farming company in Iceland with significant growth potential. Being born and raised in the Westfjords of Iceland, I have seen firsthand the impact the industry has had, and the resulting turnaround in society, which makes it even more exciting for me to play my part through this role," Einarsson said. "I am really looking forward to contributing to the continued development and growth of this company, based on a sustainable approach that benefits our shareholders, society and the environment."

Arctic Fish, which has struggled recently with a sea lice problem in the Westfjords, announced recently it plans a switch to selling through Mowi, which acquired a majority stake in the firm in November 2022.

- Boston, Massachusets U.S.A.-based aquatech firm InnovaSea has appointed Rudi Seim (pictured) as managing director of its Norway operations. 

“Rudi was an ideal choice to lead our Norwegian business,” Innovasea CEO David Kelly said in a release. “Not only does he have a great understanding of the market and strong contacts throughout the industry, but his background in genetics and egg production brings another area of expertise to Innovasea.”

Seim joins InnovaSea from Benchmark Genetics,where he was the head of production Norway and global fish health. 

“This is fantastic opportunity and I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Innovasea,” Seim said. “I’ve long been impressed by Innovasea’s commitment to R&D and its ability to drive technological advancements in the fish farming industry, and now I’ll get to be a part of that from the inside.”

 - Waltham, Massachusets U.S.A.-based Slade Gorton has hired Annie Tselikis as the company's director of marketing and business development.

Tselikis is a seafood industry veteran, having held positions primarily focused on the lobster sector in the U.S. state of Maine.

“Annie is uniquely positioned to help us expand our engagement with chain operators, particularly within the commercial and non-commercial food service sector," Slade Gorton CEO Kim Gorton said in a release. "She is passionate about the seafood industry and has a deep understanding of and appreciation for each step in the value chain – from the point of harvest to the end user."

Her most recent position was as the director of marketing and franchise sales at Cousins Maine Lobster, joining in 2021.

“Throughout my career, I have been driven to increase the customer and consumer understanding of seafood. As a category, seafood offers a diverse array of species and products, and in turn, we can provide consumers with an incredible culinary experience. My goal at Slade Gorton is to translate that diversity and mystique into accessibility and confidence for everyone who encounters our products,” Tselikis said.

-The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation announced it has named Kristy Clement as its new CEO.

“I am thrilled to join an organization that plays a crucial role in shaping the future of Alaska's economy. I look forward to collaborating with the AFDF board and staff to ensure that Alaska's blue economy is well-positioned for future growth. My goal is to create lasting value for all stakeholders through innovative strategies," Clement said in a release. 

Clement also serves as chairperson of the board for the Afognak Native Corporation Board of Directors. She holds a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Alaska Pacific University, and an executive MBA from the University of Washington.

“We are very excited to welcome Kristy Clement as AFDF’s chief executive officer. Kristy brings adept leadership and strategic planning skills, which are essential to AFDF continuing as a leader in Alaska’s seafood industry," AFDF President Markos Scheer said. "As AFDF enters its fifth decade of supporting and building Alaska’s blue economy, Kristy’s vision will guide AFDF into the future." 

-Cargill Aqua Nutrition North Sea and Canada has named Tarjei Eide as its CFO, effective 1 January. Eide joined Cargill in 2018 as the finance lead for Cargill Aqua Nutrition (CQN) after working in management consulting, according to AquaFeed.com.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to support Cargill’s North Sea and Canada aqua customers,” Eide said. “As an industry, we face many challenges we must solve in the years to come. I am very proud of all the good work we have done over the past few years and look forward to building on a good foundation. In the future, we will become even better - which is expected by both customers and consumers. I am confident that we have what it takes to succeed.”

Eide will be responsible for CQN North Sea and Canada business operations, and join the CQN global leadership team. 

- Steve Gwozdz has been named vice president of frozen seafood at Bensenville, Illinois U.S.A.-based Fortune Fish and Gourmet. 

“I can't express how incredibly "Fortune-ate" I am to join an incredible team within the field I love. Thank you to all who have supported and mentored me throughout my career,” Gwozdz wrote on LinkedIn.

Prior to joining Fortune Fish and Gourmet, Gwozdz worked at grocery chain Stop and Shop as a seafood category manager. 

“I will miss the Team at Stop and Shop and my peers at Ahold Delhaize as I continue this exciting journey,” Gwozdz said.

Photo courtesy of Innovasea