Ocean Beauty Seafoods has hired Jeff Gernand as its new regional sales manager for the U.S. West Coast, replacing Cheri Rhodes, who recently retired.
The Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based seafood firm operates seven seafood distribution locations across the Western United States and two smoking and processing plants in Washington state, was featured in SeafoodSource’s Top 25 Seafood Product Innovators list in September 2021. The company’s ownership includes the Bristol Bay Economic Development Council, a community development quota group that supports economic development in Western Alaska villages, and a group of veteran seafood executives.
Ocean Beauty Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ron Christianson praised Gernand’s 26 years of retail seafood experience, primarily in seafood department management roles. Most recently, Gernand was head of national retail sales at Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based seafood distributor Slade Gorton.
“We are thrilled to add someone’s with Jeff’s experience to the Ocean Beauty team,” Christianson said. “He will be a great asset as we continue to introduce new products and develop new customers.”
Christianson thanked Rhodes and wished her well in retirement.
“In the past two years, Cheri has done an excellent job for the company, including significant sales growth each year and in strengthening customer relationships,” Christianson said.
Ocean Beauty Seafoods merged its wild salmon and Gulf of Alaska groundfish operations with those of Icicle Seafoods in May 2020, creating OBI Seafoods. It recently introduced new products including Echo Falls Tapas Sliced Smoked Alaskan Sockeye Salmon and Hot Smoked Alaskan Sablefish. Christianson said a revamp of its hot-smoked salmon line-up, packaging enhancements on its Echo Falls line of smoked seafood, and new offerings in its Captain Findus product line are forthcoming.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Beauty Seafoods
