Seafish has appointed Marcus Coleman as its new CEO, replacing Paul Williams, who stepped down from the role in October.
Coleman will take up the position in January and joins the seafood body from Compass Point Business Services - which offers support services to the public sector - where he was MD.
He has previous experience as assistant CEO of Lincolnshire County Council and director general of the Digital TV Group, a national industry association tasked with enabling the digital TV switchover. The father of two will be based in Grimsby.
“I view the seafood industry as having a vital role in underpinning the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the UK,” said Coleman. “I see the potential to strengthen that role, not only in the traditional communities the industry serves but in the new markets it creates both at home and abroad.”
He added there were “great similarities” between his new role and the Digital Television Group.
“That organisation brought the industry supply chain together and helped determine policy, technical standards, communications, research and product testing in order to protect consumer interests, drive innovation and take the industry forward,” Coleman added.
“I will be applying all of that knowledge and experience here at Seafish and believe it will help deliver a sustainable, profitable and socially responsible seafood industry.”
The selection process for a new CEO was “lengthy and robust” said Seafish acting chairman Brian Young, who added that “while we were faced with an extremely strong candidate list, the interview panel was unanimous in its decision”.
Coleman had “strong leadership skills, an engaging style and a demonstrated ability to set strategic vision and lead change programmes, getting the best out of people and taking them with him”.
“Although Marcus does not have seafood industry experience, he has demonstrated a sound understanding of the key strategic issues and a strong ambition to help realise the ambition set out in our Seafish corporate plan,” he added.
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