Isle of Skye-based Organic Sea Harvest (OSH) welcomes a new CEO this week, with the appointment of former feed industry boss James Deverill.
OSH, which is Scotland's only independently owned salmon farmer, snapped up Deverill from feed supplier Cargill Aqua Nutrition Scotland (EWOS).
Deverill takes over from former chief Ove Thu, who will continue his association with the Scottish company as its chairman.
Commenting on the move, Thu said, "The board of directors are pleased to welcome James with his management and aquaculture expertise to Organic Sea Harvest. His insight into salmon farming will strengthen our operations and be a valuable asset to our outstanding team."
Prior to his new role, Deverill spent seven years at Cargill (EWOS) as business developer, commercial director and ultimately Country Director for Scotland.
In addition to his business experience, Deverill can also claim a solid knowledge of salmon aquaculture from a scientific perspective. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Aquaculture and a PhD in Fish Behavioural Ecology from the University of Stirling. He was also previously research and innovation director for the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre.
"I am thrilled to be joining the OSH team and look forward to get to know the employees and the operations," Deverill said in a statement.
"Organic Sea Harvest will continue to grow the finest organic salmon while providing safe jobs and economic prosperity for the communities in which we operate," he continued.
Currently OSH operates two sea farms off the northeast coast of Skye, with a combined biomass of 5,000 tonnes.
The company has been gradually growing its management team over the past year. In March 2022, OSH announced the appointment of Paul Lynch as Head of Finance, a newly-created role.
Organic Sea Harvest is the first new, independently owned and operated salmon producer in Scotland for many decades. Established in 2017, with the vision of filling a gap in the organic salmon market, OSH started in the small community of Staffin on the Isle of Skye. The company currently operates at two sea sites, Cùl nan Cnoc & Inbhir Tobhta and Culnacnoc & Invertote. Both of these are officially certified as organic by the UK Soil Association.
