Tom Pickerell leaves Global Tuna Alliance; Joseph Baillargeon joins Eastern Fisheries

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

- U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has added Matt Robinson to her staff as a legislative assistant focused on fisheries issues. Previously, Robinson worked at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council as an Alaska Sea Grant state fellow. According to his LinkedIn, Robinson began the position in January 2023 and based in Washington, D.C.

-Tom Pickerell will be leaving his position Global Tuna Alliance CEO on 31 March. Pickerell reshared the posting for his position on his LinkedIn profile.

-Steve Challouma has been appointed as chief marketing officer at frozen food manufacturer Nomad Foods. According to his LinkedIn, Challouma has been with the Feltham, U.K.-based company for 16 years. 

- The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) board of directors has a new member, Claudio R. Cerda the General Manager of Troutlodge. The Bonney Lake, Washington U.S.A.-based aquaculture company exports trout eggs to more than 60 countries. “We must commit ourselves to a bigger vision where all modes of aquaculture are embraced and accepted as an environmentally sustainable way to produce food the world needs. It’s happened in other countries,” Cerda said in a press release. “It should happen here.”

- New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based seafood harvesterand processer Eastern Fisheries has announced Joseph Baillargeon as its procurement specialist. Baillargeon, who will manage the company's sales and procurement division, has more than 20 years of experience in the seafood industry. “Joe brings a vast amount of knowledge, and industry experience to Eastern Fisheries, we are thrilled to have him on our team now as we actively seek to add new offerings for our retail, foodservice and wholesale customers worldwide,” Eastern Fisheries Executive Vice President Joe Furtado said in a press release.

-Stefano Tarani has joined Miami, Florida, U.S.A.-based Seafarers, becoming its U.S. Northeast sales executive for foodservice and retail. The former Fishin' Company director of foodservice sales posted his acceptance of the position on his LinkedIn page last week. Tarani joins Justin Baugh, who became Seafarer’s vice president of retail in January after previously serving as  senior director of sustainability and traceability for The Fishin’ Company.

- Jacky Cartwright has been appointed as Seafood Industry Australia’s newest policy officer. Cartwright brings a background working with commercial prawn trawlers for nearly a decade, and has recently been accepted to the National Seafood Industry leadership program, and is a current member of Women in Seafood Australasia, Seafood Industry Australia announced on its LinkedIn.

- Nicola Hunter has been appointed as the head of seafood purchasing and strategies with  U.K.-based food-processing company Hilton Food Group. According to her LinkedIn, Hunter was with Sea-Farms for almost 11 years and was a senior fish buyer at Coldwater Seafood before that.

-Michelle Kwait has been appointed chief human resources officer at cultivated meat and seafood company Upside Foods. "I was particularly drawn to Upside Foods because of its mission to change the world for the better. It's clear that the company has attracted a passionate and talented group of people, and I'm looking forward to helping grow this incredible team," Kwait said. "Upside cares deeply about its employees, and I'm excited to celebrate and enhance the culture as we take the company to the next level."

Photo Courtesy of the Matt Robinson/LinkedIn