AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., a biotechnology enterprise focused on boosting productivity in the North American aquaculture market and a majority-owned subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NASDAQ: XON), has hired Sylvia Wulf as its chief executive officer and executive director effective on January 1, 2019. Her appointment has been planned to coincide with the company’s developing emphasis on the commercialization of AquAdvantage Salmon, as the majority of the required regulatory hurdles have been passed.
Wulf joins Maynard, Massachusetts-headquartered AquaBounty from US Foods, one of the country’s leading food distributors, where she is currently a senior vice president and has been president of the manufacturing division since 2011. Prior to US Foods, she held senior positions at Tyson Foods Inc, Sara Lee Corporation, and Bunge Corp., among other companies. Additionally, she is currently on the board of directors and the executive committee of the National Fisheries Institute.
Dr. Ronald Stotish will remain with the company as an executive director with responsibility for research and regulatory affairs. He will continue to work closely with the regulatory authorities involved in food and biotechnology in the United States, Canada and other countries. He will also lead the continued technical development of new products and will work closely with Wulf in the planned expansion of the production organization both within North America and abroad.
“We are delighted to appoint Ms. Wulf as our new ceo,” said Chairman Richard Clothier. “Her wide and deep experience in the food industry in North America and its fish sector will be a vital asset in the production and marketing of AquAdvantage Salmon and in the development of additional products. This appointment greatly strengthens AquaBounty’s executive team at a crucial stage in the company’s development, and the board looks forward to a period of rapid growth under Sylvia’s leadership.”
“AquAdvantage Salmon is the type of innovation necessary to meet the rising consumer demand for a healthy source of protein, and salmon in particular, without placing further pressure on the sea and coastal environments. I look forward to working with Dr. Stotish and the team to successfully commercialize it both in North America and abroad,” said Wulf.
AquAdvantage Salmon is an Atlantic salmon that has been bioengineered to grow to market size in about half the time of a traditional farmed Atlantic salmon. It significantly improves the economics of producing salmon in land-based contained facilities. The product is being promoted as an environmentally sustainable alternative to imported farmed Atlantic salmon.
