IFFO appoints new president and vice president; Iceland Seafood International elects new board

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].

- Egil Magne Haugstad (pictured) has been appointed as the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization's new president, while Eduardo Goycoolea has been elected IFFO's vice president, effective 1 January, 2024. 

“IFFO members are extremely important for producing marine ingredients, which are essential for the food industry and the well-being of an ever-growing global population," Haugstad said in a release. "IFFO members work in a responsible manner and continuously encourage further development in science-based projects such as the ongoing life cycle assessment analysis. I look forward to contributing to developing knowledge and competence within the marine ingredients sector.  We will also explore how IFFO can keep developing its services and be an even better meeting place for our industry."

Haugstad is currently the vice president of IFFO, and also CEO Of Hordaland, Norway-based pelagic fish producer Pelagia AS. Goycoolea was one of the original IFFO founders in 2001 and was named its first co-president. 

"I have worked closely with IFFO for many years and helped it become the reference point for the marine ingredients industry. IFFO’s events provide an unrivaled opportunity for the whole value chain to meet, while the organization’s market and technical intelligence keeps developing. I am truly happy to continue supporting the organization and its members,” Goycoolea said. 

- Simon Rilatt, the procurement director for Katsrup, Denmark-based seafood manufacturer Espersen, died on 18 October, after a battle with cancer. 

Rilatt, who began working in the seafood industry at 17 years old, and was also a representative of the Danish Seafood Association, and a member of the European Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP) board.

- Afton Vigue has been appointed as the communications manager for the governor’s office for the U.S. state of Maine. According to her LinkedIn, she began the role in October 2023. 

“I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in service to the people of Maine in this new role,” Vigue wrote on LinkedIn. 

This past July, Vigue was promoted to the communications and outreach program for the Maine Aquaculture Association. 

- Iceland Seafood International has elected five new board members to its board of directors. 

Bergþór Baldvinsson, Birna Einarsdóttir, Halldór Leifsson, Ingunn Agnes Kro,  Jakob Valgeir Flosason have all been named to ISI's board of directors. Einarsdóttir was elected as board chair, while Halldór Leifsson and Jakob Valgeir Flosason will sit on the remuneration committee, and Bergþór Baldvinsson and Ingunn Agnes Kro will sit on the audit committee.

Photo courtesy of Egil Magne Haugstad/LinkedIn