The Atlantic Salmon Federation has tapped John T. Dillon of Greenwich, Connecticut, to take over in the role of chairman for the organization’s U.S. Board of Directors.
Dillion has long been a member of the ASF U.S. Board, coming on in 2010, and served as Chairman of the ASF (US) Research and Environment Committee from 2013 – 2015. What’s more, Dillion also served with the ASF (US) National Advisory Council from 1996 to 1998. A co-chair for the Miramichi Salmon Association Capital Campaign, Dillion helped to raise USD 2 million (EUR 1.8 million) to help MSA’s salmon conservation and research efforts.
As Chairman and CEO of International Paper (IP), Dillion played a big role in securing IP’s involvement and financial support for ASF’s cutting edge salmon tracking research, particularly the organization’s smolt wheel installment.
“John is very passionate about ASF research, having played an active role since the 1990’s on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick,” said ASF President Bill Taylor. “A smolt wheel, key to our tracking research and still in place today, is thanks to his keen interest in understanding the many issues and threats impacting salmon survival both in rivers and at sea. John realizes that to effectively manage and conserve wild Atlantic salmon, we must understand the pressures influencing the species throughout its life history.”
Dillion has fished extensively for Atlantic salmon, and his favorite river to fish from is New Brunswick’s Miramichi, where he fishes at the Rocky Brook Camp owned by International Paper. Dillion retired from from his position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for IP back in 2003 and joined Evercore Partners, an investment bank, in 2005.
Dillon takes over for Christopher H. Buckley Jr., who had chaired ASF’s U.S. Board of Directors since 2012.
