New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based seafood supplier and processor Northern Wind has hired industry veteran Kenneth Loud as its vice president of new product development, the company announced 15 May.
Loud, who has over 35 years of experience in the seafood industry, comes to the role most recently from Kendell Seafood – a provider of Chilean sea bass from Patagonia – where he had been working for the past four years.
With Northern Wind, Loud will be “involved on both the procurement and sales side” of the company’s new product expansion lines, which are comprised of vessel direct domestic and international unique seafood species such as FAS long line cod, conch, mackerel, octopus, smelts, butterfish, and squid. As vice president of new product development, Loud will also work to further the distribution of Northern Wind’s new items, which originate from Turkey, Morocco, Bulgaria, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, China, Peru, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States.
“We look forward to working with Ken and the synergies he brings to our sales team. His industry experience, product knowledge, and contacts on both the supply and sales side add a new dimension to Northern Wind’s already rich base,” Northern Wind CEO George Kourisaid.
“We are in an expansion mode and this is an integral piece of the puzzle,” Northern Wind Chairman and Founder Ken Melanson said.
Loud will work closely alongside Michael Fernandes, Northern Wind’s president, regarding both the sourcing and distribution models to be implemented in his new position.
Northern Wind is a supplier of scallops, ahi tuna, Atlantic salmon, North American lobster, monkfish, headfish, skate, and value-added seafood offerings. A year ago, the company was the first scallop producer in the nation to receive Fair Trade certification. Building off demand from the foodservice sector for premium scallops, the company has launched its Captain’s Call Five-Star Premium Scallops.
