The Kingfish Company Chief Financial Officer Christo du Plessis has been named the CEO of Matorka, a Hlíðasmári, Iceland-based Arctic char farmer.
In a release issued through the Euronext Growth Oslo exchange, The Kingfish Company – which operates land-based yellowtail farm in Kats, the Netherlands, and is building a second farm in the U.S. state of Maine – said du Plessis will step down as CFO and leave the company in May 2022. The company has begun the search for a new CFO, it said. Du Plessis joined The Kingfish Company as general manager in 2019, and rose to become CFO and a board member.
“The management and board would like to thank Christo for his leadership and dedication in different roles for the past three years with the group, and wish him success in his new role,” The Kingfish Company Founder and CEO Ohad Maiman said. “The Kingfish Company has come a long way since inception almost seven years ago, and is well positioned to achieve the goals it has set itself and remain at the forefront of land-based RAS farming.”
Matorka operates a land-based hatchery and grow-out facility in Western Iceland with currently annual production capacity of 3,000 metric tons (MT). It is preparing for an expansion of its Grindavik, Iceland, facility so it can market up to 10,000 MT of Arctic char a year.
“I am excited to join the team which provides a unique opportunity to combine my 15 years of experience in land-based farming with the substantial potential of Matorka,” du Plessis said in a statement posted on Matorka’s Facebook page. “I believe there is substantial value to be unlocked by combining the potential of Arctic char with Matorka’s expansion opportunity, unique location, experienced team, and committed shareholders.”
Matorka Interim CEO Bjarni K. Thorvardarson, who is also a director of the company, said du Plessis’ experience helping to triple The Kingfish Company’s production capacity and achieve “sector-leading productivity results” was a major factor in the decision to hire him.
“It is with pleasure that I welcome Christo to Matorka´s strong management team. His scale-up experience is instrumental to Matorka´s plans to become the largest supplier of sustainably raised Arctic Char delicacy worldwide,” Thorvardarson said.
Photo courtesy of Matorka
