When he steps down at the end of this year, Erenst will have spent exactly three years at the helm of the land-based yellowtail kingfish farmer.
Photo: WeAreAquaculture.
In a statement released yesterday afternoon, The Kingfish Company announced that its CEO, Vincent Erenst, has decided to retire and will step down from his position at the helm of the Netherlands-based farmer at the end of 2025.
"After three years at the helm of The Kingfish Company, I believe the time is right for me to pass the baton to new leadership," Erenst said. "It has been a privilege to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team, and I am confident that the company is well-positioned for continued success."
Vincent Erenst's statements are now somewhat reminiscent of those made by Ohad Maiman, co-founder and former CEO of the company, in November 2022, when, announcing his departure from the position, he said: "I have decided that now would be a good time to step down from the CEO role."
In a subsequent interview with WeAreAquaculture, Maiman added: "I think that for where the company is going now, it needs an operationally minded CEO that spends more time on looking at the details of the operation and profitability than about growth and next species and next technologies."
That "operationally minded CEO" ended up being Vincent Erenst, who was appointed in January 2023, meaning that when his retirement takes effect on December 31, he will have served exactly three years in the position. At the time, The Kingfish Company Chair of the Board, Jeroen Scheelbeek, said of him that "his impressive track record and experience make him a strong choice to lead the company to the next level of performance."
In a conversation with WeAreAquaculture three months after taking office, Erenst said that he was still in a learning phase, but he showed happy with his team, saying that both those who had been with the company since day one and the newcomers were motivated and knowledgeable. "We have a very good core to build a much larger business over time," he then stated.
In announcing his retirement now, the company highlighted that, since he was appointed CEO in 2023, Vincent Erenst has driven a phase of significant expansion, "establishing The Kingfish Company as the clear leader in RAS technology and sustainable yellowtail kingfish production, and capturing market leadership across all major regions it serves."
The Kingfish Company closed 2024 with strong commercial momentum, achieving over 60% volume growth in Q4 and surpassing 2,000 tons in annual shipped volume for the first time. The land-based yellowtail kingfish producer also improved its sales capabilities and took steps to optimize operational efficiency, align production with demand, and ensure it remains on track for profitability. This trend was confirmed in Q1 2025 and, according to the company's latest trading update, will continue in Q2 of this year.
So, like his predecessor, it seems that Vincent Erenst will leave the company at an optimal time so that whoever takes over on January 1, 2026, can continue developing The Kingfish Company's growth.
This was acknowledged by the company's Chair. "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Vincent for his leadership and commitment to The Kingfish Company," Jeroen Scheelbeek said. "He has been instrumental in shaping our strategy and driving our expansion, and we wish him every success in the next chapter of his life."
The Board of Directors has already initiated a search process for a new CEO and is committed to ensuring a smooth transition. As mentioned, Erenst will remain in his role until 31 December 2025 to ensure business continuity and support this transition process.