New CEO appointed for The Scottish Salmon Company
The Scottish Salmon Company Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of James William (Bill) Hazeldean as Chief Executive Officer and Dr Stewart McLelland as Chief Operating Officer.
Mr Hazeldean replaces Mike Corbett, who joined the company in April 2010 as part of the team leading the company's successful restructuring.
Mr Hazeldean has more than 36 years experience in the food industry, 26 years of which have been spent in seafood. Following various financial and general management roles, in 1985 Mr Hazeldean was appointed Managing Director of Macfish Limited, the largest fish processing company in Scotland. In 1994 he established his own company, Macrae Foods, which grew from an initial annual turnover of £1 million, to £96 million, over a ten year period. Macrae became the UK market leader in Ready to Eat seafood, including Scottish smoked salmon, and was acquired by Youngs Seafoods in 2004. Later that year, Mr Hazeldean was voted Scottish Entrepreneur of the year. In 2006, Mr Hazeldean founded Adelie Foods, which is now the largest Food to Go specialist processor in the UK, with a turnover of circa £230 million per annum.
Since December 2007, Mr Hazeldean has been on the board of directors of Lighthouse Caledonia ASA helping to guide the company through its transformation as The Scottish Salmon Company Ltd in 2010. He has now resigned from the board of directors of The Scottish Salmon Company Ltd following his assumption of the CEO role.
Dr McLelland has worked closely with Mr Hazeldean for the last 14 years, as Managing Director of Food Partners Group, part of the Adelie Food Group, and as Managing Director of the Macrae Food Group. Previously, he was Technical Manager, Food Technology at Waitrose.
The Scottish Salmon Company is a customer-driven producer of premium quality Scottish salmon. The company is continuing to build long term, close working customer relationships with an increased emphasis on value added offerings and the coordination of marketing strategies. Through this "closer to the customer" platform, the company is better able to respond to customer needs quickly and dynamically in an ever-changing retail environment.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Hazeldean said:
"I am delighted to take on an Executive role with Scottish Salmon, at an exciting stage in the development of the company. The business has an experienced and highly skilled staff, and it will be a privilege to lead the team in a business which is of real significance to the Scottish salmon industry.
"I'd also like to express my thanks to Mike Corbett for his considerable efforts throughout his tenure and wish him every future success. He was instrumental in aiding the company's transition and reorganization from Lighthouse Caledonia ASA to The Scottish Salmon Company Ltd, including overseeing the successful exchange offer the company completed in June 2010. That effort has allowed us go forward with strength and great confidence."
For Information:
Su Cox
su.cox@scottishsalmon.comThe Scottish Salmon Company
The Scottish Salmon Company is the leading independent producer of Scottish salmon, providing superior salmon to both the local and international markets. The Scottish based and operated company is a fully-integrated seafood company, built around the provenance, taste, freshness, sustainability and health benefits of its salmon product.
The Company is engaged in all stages of the value chain from smolt production to harvesting, processing and sales. Operating from over 40 sites on the Hebrides and West Coast of Scotland, the company currently employs over 350 staff. The Scottish Salmon Company currently produces about 24,000 tonnes of Scottish salmon annually, accounting for about 20% of Scottish production.
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)