Meritxell Diez-Padrisa has been confirmed as the new production director at Mowi Scotland. Starting in February, she will replace outgoing director Gideon Pringle.
Diez-Padrisa was an internal candidate for the position. She has been employed by the company since 2011 and has worked as head of fish health since 2017, with a break in 2015-16, when she held the position of head of fish health for Grupo Culmarex.
“I am looking forward to bringing my expertise and focus to this role, to better improve our farming results,” Diez-Padrisa said. “We have been very candid about the challenges we face growing salmon in their natural and wild environment, and I am pleased to know, very well, the highly-skilled team of experts that will be working with me.”
Mowi Scotland said changes to the company’s mid-management positions are underway. These are aimed at supporting the recently announced changes to Mowi’s organizational structure and its group management team, as well as the salmon producer’s stated increased focus on farming activities to improve biological results.
“Meritxell will lead a strong and refreshed farming team, and will enhance our production capabilities by leveraging her vast fish health and welfare experience,” Ben Hadfield, Mowi’s COO of farming, Scotland and Ireland, said.
According to Mowi's latest trading update, its Scottish operations harvested 14,000 metric tons (MT) of gutted weight equivalent (GWE) salmon in the fourth quarter of 2019, up from 12,000 MT in Q4 2018. However, the operational earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of this salmon fell to EUR 1.30 (USD 1.45) per kilogram from EUR 2.30 (USD 2.56) a year previously.
Photo courtesy of Mowi
