Canada-based XpertSea has announced the hire of Katie Sokalsky to the position of president and chief operating officer.
Sokalsky was previously the vice president at Scotiabank, one of the largest banks in Canada, where she was responsible for new products, and led the company’s digital transformation. According to XpertSea, she will leverage her expertise to support the company’s growth in Latin America, in addition to supporting growth in Southeast Asia and India.
XpertSea focuses on using precision technologies in aquaculture, particularly the company’s “XperCount” software. The company announced in October that its software is now available as a smartphone app, which allows shrimp farmers to count, size, weight, and image animal samples using a smartphone with a camera.
Sokalsky’s experience will be a key asset for XpertSea, CEO Valerie Robitaille said.
“Katie’s experience in digital transformation, financial services and traditional markets will help XpertSea grow our marketplace into new territories and develop new offerings,” Robitaille said. “With her strategic and operational skills she will be key to building on our current momentum and scaling for our next phase of growth in transforming the USD 30 billion [EUR 25 billion] shrimp marketplace.”
In addition to her experience with Scotiabank, Sokalsky was the CFO and head of operations at Goldmoney Inc., where she scaled the company globally to 150 countries.
"I was taken with XpertSea’s technology, the way they’re using it to change the lives of farmers, and the incredible results that has produced,” Sokalsky said. “I’m excited to work with Valerie and her team to build a global seafood exchange that meets the growing demand for high quality, sustainable protein while delivering positive environmental returns for our planet.”
Photo courtesy of XpertSea
