Biddeford, Maine, U.S.A.-based seaweed-farming company Atlantic Sea Farms has named Mikel Durham, who formerly served as CEO of American Seafoods, as its new CEO.
The leadership transition comes on the heels of the firm raising equity of USD 3.8 million (EUR 3.7 million), with support from mission-driven investors like True Wealth Services, Third Nature Investors, and Builders Bridge.
Durham is replacing Briana Warner, the company’s CEO for the past five years, who stepped down to become a strategic advisor to the brand.
Durham, who is already a company board member, will officially step into her new role at the end of January 2025.
“I have been following the successes of Atlantic Sea Farms and its team for many years and sitting on the board for over six months,” Durham said in a release. “This is an extraordinary model pioneering ocean farming, seed research, and market demand development."
Of the successful equity raise, Durham said that the “funding will continue to help us build momentum and amplify our positive impact and returns.”
Warner served as Atlantic Sea Farms CEO since 2018, and steered the company’s growth from an operation of just two farmers to a network of 40 partner farms, which grew 1.3 million pounds of regenerative seaweed in 2024.
“We have created and developed a unique company with a strong and sustainable value proposition,” Warner said. “I am so proud of the way that we have grown a truly mission-driven company focused on putting people, planet, and farmers first.”
