Emeryville, California, U.S.A.-based Finless Foods, a cell-cultured and plant-based seafood analog company, has promoted Shannon Cosentino-Roush to the role of chief strategy officer, it announced on 22 July.
The promotion comes as Cosentino-Roush has guided Finless Foods “through critical and strategic conversations internally and with stakeholders in the ocean and policy space” for over a year-and-a-half, the company said. During that timeframe, Cosentino-Roush interfaced with seafood industry representatives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ocean conservationists, the U.S. Congress, and strategic partners like the Alliance for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation (AMPS Innovation).
Finless Foods said Cosentino-Roush played a pivotal role in steering conversations pertaining to cell-cultured terminology, “working alongside key industry decision-makers and stakeholders to advocate for the labeling phrase ‘cell-cultured,’” in an effort to ensure “consistency and a level playing field for conventional and cell-cultured products alike.”
“Cosentino-Roush also advocated for the inclusion of alternative seafood in ocean innovation and impact policy discussions with the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international environmental NGOs,” the company said.
Before joining Finless Foods, Cosentino-Roush held notable positions with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Outcomes, and the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. The University of California, Santa Clara and Vermont Law School graduate also has worked in research, fieldwork, and consulting positions both within the U.S. and internationally.
“With Shannon’s expert guidance, Finless Foods has been able to maintain a growth strategy focused on impact and the ultimate vision of limiting stress on our ocean,” Finless Foods CEO Michael Selden said. “In her next chapter, we trust her to continue to build momentum and excitement for alternative seafood while still considering the nuanced needs of the industry at-large.”
A long-standing ambition for Cosentino-Roush has been ensuring a sustainable future for bluefin tuna and other at-risk seafood species, Finless Foods said. In her new role, Cosentino-Roush will continue to collaborate with other industry actors, “from both the conventional and expanding alternatives landscape, and civil society groups focused on ocean health, sustainable fisheries and seafood, and consumer safety,” the company added.
“Importantly, she also will be developing forward-looking plans for Finless Foods’ growth with foodservice operators. She also aims to develop strategies to further integrate impact into the core of Finless’ operations and decision-making and establish methods to measure impact, including ways to track the alternative seafood movement’s effect in reducing pressure on global fisheries and the world’s oceans,” the firm said.
News of Cosentino-Roush’s promotion follows Finless Foods’ recent plant-based tuna product launch announcement. The product is designed to further the company’s “mission to create a future for seafood where the ocean thrives and provide options for diverse palates and dietary needs,” it said.
Photo courtesy of Finless Foods
