Atlantic Sapphire will still be my ‘baby’
Co-founder to step down from top job at US land-based salmon farmer
Johan Andreassen is to step down as chief executive of Florida land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire, the company said in a market announcement at the weekend.
Andreassen, who co-founded the company, will remain in an interim CEO role until a permanent replacement has been selected. Atlantic Sapphire said it will immediately start looking for a replacement.
“The Company is going from a long entrepreneurial phase to a more mature industrial phase, and now it feels right for me to let someone else take over the CEO position that can spearhead that transition, and I will help to find and onboard my successor,” said Andreassen, whose name has become synonymous with the company and a determination to overcome the many problems that have been encountered by the operation.
“The time is right to start the process of moving on and devoting more of my time to other personal priorities that I’ve sacrificed over the last years, including other companies that I am involved in.
Continuing contribution
“Being the founder of the Company, having held the Chairman role from inception in 2010 until last year and the CEO position since 2016, Atlantic Sapphire is and will still be my ‘baby’. I will continue to contribute to the best of my ability to ensure the Company achieves its goals. I am extremely proud of our team that has been working hard over a long period of time, and I am convinced that the Company will turn farming the most sustainable, healthy, fresh and delicious salmon in America into a profitable business.”
Chairman Kenneth J Andersen said the board was grateful for Andreassen’s leading role into developing the company.
“We understand Johan’s priorities and appreciate his continued support of the Company in a different role going forward. Johan has built up a strong team that we’re confident will be instrumental in the Company’s further development and growth.”
Atlantic Sapphire also announced the appointment of Mario Palma as chief operating officer. Palma is currently Atlantic Sapphire’s aquaculture engineering director, and prior to joining the company in 2017 he spent five years in smolt production and water engineering roles with Mowi.
Current Atlantic Sapphire COO Jon-Birger Løvik will remain with the company in a different role.
