Soren Dalsager appointed CEO of Stavis Seafoods; Legal Seafoods Brand President Ann Marie Escobar dies

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].

-Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A-based seafood distributor Stavis Seafoods has announced David Lancaster has stepped down as CEO and will replaced by Soren Dalsager. 

In January 2023, Dalsager was appointed as CEO of Profand USA, five years after the Spanish parent firm Grupo Profand acquired Stavis Seafood for an undisclosed sum. Dalsager will will take on an expanded portfolio following the 29 August announcement managing Profand Group's North American branch, which includes Stavis, Seafreeze, and Worldwide Perishables Enterprises.

"Our decision to appoint Soren Dalsager as Stavis CEO reflects our commitment to a seamless transition and our enthusiasm for the bright future ahead for Stavis Seafoods," Profand Group General Manager Moisés Rodríguez said in a release. "We are grateful to David Lancaster for his valuable contributions and are confident that Soren's leadership will build upon our strong foundation, taking our company to new heights."

- Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A-based Legal Seafoods Brand President Ann Marie Escobar (pictured) died on 20 August, at the age of 57. 

“Today is a difficult day as we all say goodbye to our friend and mentor, Ann Marie Escobar. We dedicate our service today at all Legal Sea Foods restaurants to the memory and grace of our dear friend and mentor,” Legal Seafoods wrote on LinkedIn.

A cause of death was not listed for Escobar in an obituary, posted on Boston.com.

-On 29 August, Buffalo, New York U.S.A-based Rich Foods, which owns SeaPak Shrimp and Seafood, announced it has hired Tracey Ziener as its executive vice president, chief research and development, and food safety quality assurance officer.

“Rich’s has a long history of pioneering many of the food industry’s game-changing products,” Ziener said in a release. “I’m excited to join a forward-thinking company that is passionate about innovation and is delivering unique solutions to customers around the world.”

-Mona Hejazipour has been promoted to the director of procurement for Skretting North America. Hejazipour has worked at Skretting for the past eight years, including the last two as North America procurement manager, according to her LinkedIn profile.

-Former Trident Seafoods executive Robert Root has joined Southfield Capital, a private U.S. equity firm. According to his LinkedIn profile, Root began at his new position in April 2023.

Prior to spending 11 months at Trident Seafoods as its V.P. of Procurement, Root spent more than 7 years at Microsoft as its senior director for consumer lifetime value. 

-Mike Porcaro has been appointed by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy to Alaska's Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. Porcaro, a talk show host, previously worked for Dunleavy on his political campaigns and on other communication-related projects. He has no experience working in the commercial fishing sector.

“All I’m doing is trying to answer a call of service, and I’m going to do the best job I can do,” Porcaro said, according to Alaska Public Media. “Judge me on my performance.”

Photo courtesy of Ann Marie Lagrotteria/LinkedIn