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].
– Sunnmøre, Norway-based Mathias Bjørge has announced two hires key to its growing salmon division expansion: Joakim Braseth as purchase and sales manager and Dag Espen Hauge as sales director.
In late 2024, the company announced that it was building a new salmon factory, with Marel’s support, in Ellingsøya. At the time, Mathias Bjørge said that the factory would be the “most advanced salmon processing line ever developed,” capable of handling 25 fish per minute with AI technology.
A major personnel expansion was announced, as well, with the company expecting to move from one to two line shifts and aiming to grow from 15 to 60 employees in production. The new hires will support this growth.
Both Braseth and Hauge bring extensive seafood experience to the emerging salmon division. Braseth, who has worked in both salmon aquaculture and seafood exports, brings expertise in international trade to the company. Hauge has spent more than two decades working in the industry at both Mowi and Nordic Wildfish.
Hauge, referencing the company’s long history, said he was excited to work for “a company that balances tradition with innovation.”
Braseth said he hoped to “help establish [Mathias Bjørge’s] presence in even more markets.”
Lars Magne Haram, managing director of Mathias Bjørge subsidiary Norwegian Salmon Company, expressed his enthusiasm, saying that the appointments would help the company “continue delivering high-quality Norwegian salmon to even more customers worldwide.”
–The National Retail Federation (NRF) has announced several new appointments intended to strengthen its advocacy team.
In a release about the news, the organization announced that Mercy Beehler will serve as vice president of government relations. Beehler previously worked for the membership team at the NRF before serving as the head of policy communications for Alibaba Group. In her new role, Beehler joins the retail industry organization’s government affairs team, managing state and federal policy.
“Retail is an industry that impacts every corner of the United States,” Beehler said. “As retailers continue to enhance their customer engagement offerings, I look forward to working with our state and federal partners on important advocacy issues such as data privacy, technology, artificial intelligence, payments, workforce, and other key issue areas.”
NRF Executive Vice President of Government Relations David French welcomed Beehler back to the organization, saying that her experience at Alibaba would be an asset in her new role.
“Her expertise in the retail industry, particularly in online retail and technology, will be instrumental in advancing our advocacy agenda before governments at every level,” French said.
Beehler will report to Jason Straczewski, who has been promoted to group vice president of government relations and political affairs.
Megan Cruz has also been promoted to vice president of advocacy and engagement.
French said that the new appointments would strengthen the NRF’s advocacy team and emphasized the need for the organization’s work in tumultuous times.
“At every level of government, retail is facing challenges and opportunities as policymakers seek to regulate data, AI technology, and workforce programs,” he said. “Our enhanced advocacy team, together with NRF’s policy experts, is positioned to provide support and close collaboration to our state retail association partners, retail business leaders, and policymakers across the U.S.”
