Morpol on Tuesday unveiled the new name of its UK salmon-farming operations, Meridian Salmon Group. In the next few months, the company’s Lakeland and Northern Isles divisions will be merged into one entity.
Morpol also appointed Pal Angell-Hansen as head of farming for the company’s global aquaculture activities. Angell-Hansen will be responsible for salmon farming in UK and Norway, sea bass and sea bream farming in Spain and cobia farming in Vietnam and Belize. Previously, he served as CFO of Marine Farms ASA and has extensive experience in the aquaculture industry.
In addition, the company announced that Bjorn Myrseth, CEO of Marine Farms, has agreed to continue with Morpol until the end of 2011 as advisor to the CEO.
“We are excited to have Bjorn Myrseth and Pal Angell-Hansen on board and are confident that they will be a great resource to Morpol and to the farming operations in particular,” said Morpol CEO Jerzy Malek. “Bjorn Myrseth has unique knowledge and expertise gained from close to 40 years in the farming industry. Pal also has long experience in the sector and he has background as former analyst, investor and advisor in the seafood industry. We believe that Morpol, with these appointments, takes the necessary step to strengthen management resources during this intensive growth period.”
Just last month, Morpol made its first acquisition in Norway, Jøkelfjord Laks AS. The Poland-based salmon processor was one of the most active European seafood companies on the mergers-and-acquisitions front last year, jumping into the salmon-farming business by landing Mainstrem Scotland, Westray Scotland Ltd., Rysa Salmon and Brookside Products Ltd.
