Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.A.-based Fortune International has appointed four new executives following a year of record growth.
The company hired Padraic Doherty to serve as the chief revenue office, Brian Gartrell as its chief human resource officer, Wally Lezniak as its senior vice president of production, and Danielle Charette as its senior vice president of customer experience. The four appointments add to Fortune’s recent appointment of Ian Navarro to the position of chief marketing officer.
“We are excited to announce and name Padraic, Brian, Wally, and Danielle to their new positions, which will allow us to accelerate organic growth and customer acquisition, as well as continue our industry leadership in employee development, advancement and opportunity,” Fortune CEO Sean O’Scannlain said in a release. He said the hires were made "in order to continue its positive trajectory."
Doherty joined Fortune after its acquisition of D’Artagnan in March 2022. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in sales, and led sales for D’Artagnan, and will now serve in the newly-created role of chief revenue officer to support the continued expansion of the company’s Fortune Fish & Gourmet distribution business.
Fortune acquired a new warehouse and distribution center in Oxford, North Carolina, U.S.A. in November 2022, which the company said will initially serve as a distribution center for D’Artagnan’s products as the company plans to expand sales in that area.
Gartrell, the new chief human resources officer, also has roughly 20 years of experience – in his case, in the human resource aspects of the supply chain, distribution, and transportation industry. In the newly-created role of chief human resources officer, Fortune said Gartrell will help grow the company’s human resource team.
Lezniak and Charette, meanwhile, are both some of longest-standing employees of Fortune Fish & Gourmet – Lezniak is one of the original five members and has a 45 year career in seafood and production, and Charette, also one of the original team, has 30 years of experience and started with the company in 2001.
“Over the last three years, Fortune has more than tripled in size, serving thousands of new customers and retailers across an-ever wider range of needs and markets, with many new employees eager to grow their careers with Fortune,” O’Scannlain said. “We are gratified to have been able to attract and promote such a high-caliber group of professionals.”
Fortune International made multiple company acquisitions in 2022. The year started in March with the previously mentioned D’Artagnan acquisition. Then, Fortune acquired D’Iberville, Mississippi-based North Bay Seafood in May to expand its operations in U.S. states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, in July, Fortune acquired New Orleans, Louisiana-based New Orleans Fish House, a seafood wholesaler and supplier also operating in the U.S. southeast.
Photos courtesy of Fortune International
