Tilapia veteran Bozano takes charge at GenoMar this week
Experienced aquaculture executive Gustavo Bozano will take the helm of global tilapia breeder GenoMar Genetics Group on Wednesday following his recent appointment as chief executive.
Bozano is a Brazilian citizen who has spent more than 30 years in the country’s aquaculture industry where he has held various technical, managerial and leadership positions. For 19 years, he has been the managing partner at AquaLagus Consultoria e Representação Agropecuária. The company has particularly been engaged in consultancies regarding operational and economic analysis of biological performance in tilapia production.
In addition, Bozano has also been working as technical and operations director at MCassab, a Brazilian tilapia producer and as commercial and marketing manager for animal feed at InVivo Group, a food and beverage manufacturing company.
He holds an Animal Science doctorate from São Paulo University and has studied business strategy at the University of La Verne, California.
The value of genetics
GenoMar supplies fingerlings and juvenile fish to tilapia farmers in South America and Southeast Asia.
“I am very excited about joining GenoMar to further develop its position as the leading tilapia genetics supplier worldwide. I have experienced the value of genetics and efficient distribution of genetic products to be a key contributor to a healthy and profitable tilapia industry,” said Bozano.
GenoMar board chairman Odd Magne Rødseth said: “We are pleased that Gustavo has accepted the position as CEO. His reputation in the tilapia industry and extensive experience covering the entire tilapia value chain, will play a decisive role in the process of continuous improvement of GenoMar products and services to our customers as well as developing the team’s skills and competences.”
Blue Future Holdings
Alejandro Tola Alvarez, who has been GenoMar Genetics Group’s chief executive for the last seven years, has been appointed executive director for non-salmonids in Oslo-based seafood investment company Blue Future Holding. Both companies are owned by German holding company EW Group, which operates in the agri- and aquaculture business sectors.
Tola’s history in GenoMar spans a period of 18 years during which he worked developing GenoMar’s technology and operations in breeding and distribution, first as chief operations officer in Asia and later as chief technical officer and chief executive, positioning GenoMar as a premium brand both in Asia and Latin America and a global leader in tilapia genetics distribution.
In February, GenoMar launched its first product bred to meet the needs of fish farmers in Brazil, the world’s fourth-largest tilapia producing country. In pre-launch tests carried out under commercial farming conditions in Brazilian waters, the “GenoMar 1000” fish grew from approximately 20 to 1,000 grams in 114 days in cages and 121 days in ponds. The fish was compared with high-performing Brazilian genetics, showing 30% faster growth than the local genetics.
“We are very proud of the commercial launch of GenoMar in Brazil. The arrival of this premium genetics on the Brazilian market represents the fulfilment of our promise to the industry and was only possible due to the competence and passion of our team,” said Tola at the time.
Strong contribution
“On behalf of the board and all the employees, I would like to thank Alejandro for his strong commitment and contribution. He has been the key person leading the company in a period of great innovation and expansion of our tilapia operations in Asia and LATAM,” said Rødseth.
“In his new role, Alejandro will use his comprehensive industrial experience and network in global aquaculture to support Blue Future Holding’s efforts at identifying, evaluating, and integrating new investment opportunities.
“He will also support current portfolio companies in their scale-up and growth journeys, including GenoMar where he will be part of the board of directors and continue to perform as director of breeding and R&D.”
