Northamptonshire, England-based Cadman Capital Group, a multinational alternative investment firm, has hired Nik Sachlikidis as its new aquaculture division managing director and Matthew Johnston as its research and development director.
The firm owns Caribbean Sustainable Fisheries, a fully operational spiny lobster farm in the British Virgin Islands; Orkney Shellfish Hatchery, a multi-species shellfish hatchery focusing primarily on the cultivation of native European oysters (Ostrea edulis); and Ocean On Land Technology, a developer of state-of-the art aquaculture systems.
The hires “underscor[e] the firm’s commitment to driving continued growth of its aquaculture businesses,” the company said in a press release.
Sachlikidis previously worked as director of science for Darden, the former owners of the Red Lobster chain of restaurants, and then for its subsidiary, Darden Aquasciences, which worked with two Malaysian companies to develop the world's first integrated lobster aquaculture park, or iLAP, in Sabah, Malaysia under a USD 600 million (EUR 525 million) deal. He will be responsible for the implementation of Cadman Capital’s aquaculture sustainability agenda and strategy, with the development of additional aquaculture products, farms, and hatcheries as a priority, according to the firm.
Johnston previously worked in MG Kallis’ lobster harvest division, where he worked on a team that successfully solved the breeding cycle of the tropical spiny lobster, while also overseeing diet development for slipper and tropical spiny lobsters, and supporting the growth of the company’s Southeast Asian pilot farm. Johnston joined Cadman Capital Group’s aquaculture division in 2015.
“Nik is the ideal candidate to drive our aquaculture division forward as we move into the next phase of our strategy. His experience, expertise and passion for aquaculture is unparalleled, and I’m excited to see how things progress in line with our vision,” Cadman Capital Group Chairman Giles Cadman said. “Having Matt as part of the aquaculture team allows us to further expand our research and development commitments. His experience coupled with his incredible passion, insight and dedication to the industry is a huge part of what makes him ideal for this role and we’re looking forward to working alongside him as we continue to evolve.”
Photos courtesy of Cadman Capital Group
