To keep up to date with the latest personnel changes across the seafood industry, SeafoodSource is compiling a regular round-up of hiring announcements and other personnel-related shifts worldwide. If you have an announcement, please send it to [email protected].
– Julie Packard, the founding director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, will leave her role after 40 years, once a successor is found and will join the aquarium’s board of trustees.
Packard announced the move on 15 January.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to lead the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the past 40 years. When our founders first envisioned an aquarium focused on the marine life of Monterey Bay, we had high expectations. What we've achieved is so much more than anything we could have imagined," she said. "I'm deeply grateful for the amazing generosity of our members and donors who have enabled us to achieve the Packard family's original intent: that the Aquarium endure far into the future. I'm excited to continue to build on this success – for the benefit of the ocean and future generations."
Commenting on her decision, aquarium Board Chair Tegan Acton called Packard "a visionary leader."
“Julie is a global force for ocean conservation whose impact reaches far beyond Monterey Bay Aquarium," she said. "She has continually identified new opportunities to make a difference and has built a strong team at the aquarium that's doing so much to protect and restore the living ocean.”
During Packard’s tenure, the Monterey Bay Aquarium built widespread awareness of ocean issues and influenced consumer choices with regard to seafood through its influential Seafood Watch program. More than 72 million visitors and 2.7 million students have visited the Aquarium, which has often been ranked as among the world’s best since its founding.
Packard has served on both the Pew Oceans Commission and Joint Oceans Commission Initiative and has won the Audubon Medal for Conservation, the University of California Presidential Medal, the R. Marlin Perkins Award for Professional Excellence, the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation Innovator Award, and been named a California Coastal Hero by the state's Coastal Commission.
Packard will continue on the Packard Foundation board, where she is vice chair, and as the chair of the board of Monterey Bay Aquarium Reseach Institute.
“It’s time to pass the torch to a new leader who will chart the aquarium's course in the decades to come,” Packard said in a release about her departure. “We have a fantastic staff and volunteer team, a unique and powerful experience for our guests, and a critical mission. The aquarium's future is brighter than ever. I can't wait to see what comes next."
– Kristiansund, Norway-based aquaculture and fisheries data consultancy firm Kontali has appointed Ole Magnus Waage as its chief commercial officer.
Waage will run the commercial team at the firm, including its Edge platform, which serves the aquaculture market.
“Kontali sets the global standard for fisheries and aquaculture insights. I look forward to leveraging my background to strengthen collaboration with our team, customers, and partners while enhancing Kontali’s unique offerings,” Waage said.
Most recently, Waage worked in the software sector, serving as head of global sales development for Spacemaker/Forma.
“Ole Magnus’s experience in software and strategic account management will be instrumental in solidifying Kontali’s position as a global leader in data and analytics for the fish farming industry,” Kontali CEO Kjetil Angell Kjerstad said.
– Indian seafood company Captain Fresh has named Rupali Gupta its group chief human resources officer (CHRO).
Gupta will oversee the company's offices in India, North America, Spain, France, Poland, and the United Arab Emerites.
“Rupali comes with over two decades of experience in human resources and consulting," Captain Fresh said. "Having spearheaded culture transformation, organizational design, leadership development, HR transformation, and change management uniquely positions her to drive Captain Fresh's ambitious growth. She will now helm organization and workforce integration for the group as we scale globally.”
Gupta brings experience from Korn Ferry, Mercer, Mundipharma, Standard Chartered Bank, and Accenture.
"I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to ensure we attract top talent, foster a culture of collaboration and engagement, and drive organizational success across all regions,” Gupta said.
