Adam Basalaj, the former managing director of FRoSTA Poland, a producer and supplier of value-added frozen food products, has been named chief executive officer of Morpol ASA. Having recently been acquired by Marine Harvest, the Morpol Group is engaged in salmon processing as well as sale and distribution of finished salmon products that range from smoked salmon and frozen portions to organic salmon and salmon specialities.
Founded in 1996 in Ustka on the Baltic coast of Poland, Morpol employs over 4,000 people in nine countries. Engaged in salmon farming in Scotland and Norway as well as in Poland, the company generated approximately EUR 502.7 million in revenues last year from sales to customers across Europe, Japan, the USA and elsewhere.
“Mr Basalaj is a strong leader with an impressive track record from the food industry in Poland. I am confident that he will fill the role as ceo in a very good way,” said Ola Brattvoll, chairman of Morpol ASA.
Meanwhile, John-Paul McGinley, who has been serving as acting ceo since February, will assume the position of chief operating officer for sales and marketing at Morpol ASA. Piotr Kapinos will continue to serve as chief financial officer.
“I want to thank Mr. McGinley for the efforts he has made as ceo. During his tenure the smoked salmon industry has been facing difficult market conditions and high raw material prices. During that tine he managed this period well, showed by the improved results in the third quarter,” said Brattvoll.
Elsewhere on the executive management front, Teis Knudsen, a Danish citizen, has been named chief operating officer for processing. Currently serving as managing director or Espersen Poland, he has extensive experience in the seafood industry. Knudsen will start his new job on December 1.
“With this group management team we have a skilled and strong team contributing to the future profitable growth of Morpol,” said Brattvoll.
