Nova Scotia, Canada-based value-added frozen seafood company High Liner Foods confirmed on 16 January that Jeff O'Neill, president and COO of its Canadian operations, will be leaving the business, and that the company will be restructuring regional leadership following his departure.
High Liner does not intend to fill O’Neill’s vacant position, and has opted instead to restructure the leadership within its Canadian operations as a means to “improve its marketing and sales effectiveness and reduce fixed costs,” the company said in a news release.
"On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Jeff for his contribution to High Liner Foods and wish him all the best with his future endeavors," High Liner CEO Henry Demone said.
Demone, who stepped back into the CEO role for High Liner when Keith Decker left the company in August 2017, vowed to work with his firm’s leadership teams to create long-term growth for the business and value for its stakeholders.
"The board and I are confident that the company is pursuing the right strategy to grow our business and create long-term shareholder value," Demone said in August. "As CEO, I am looking forward to working more closely with the High Liner Foods leadership team on the execution of this strategy and on pursuing our growth opportunities.”
Decker, who served as High Liner's CEO from 2015 until summer 2017, took over as Blue Harvest Fisheries' president and CEO on 16 January, 2018.
The leading North American seafood supplier, which sells its branded products throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico under the High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel, Sea Cuisine and C. Wirthy labels, will report its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2017, as well as year-end figures, on 21 February.