Royal Greenland's largest seafood plant in Canada is Old Perlican, "the mothership" for Quin-Sea Fisheries Ltd. operations in Newfoundland.
Photo: Royal Greenland.
Moving forward with its reorganization, Royal Greenland has announced that, as part of its strategy, its subsidiary in Newfoundland, Quin-Sea Fisheries Ltd., will be fully integrated into the Royal Greenland Group. Moreover, it has also announced a change of leadership at the helm of the seafood company.
In a statement, the company said that Simon Jarding will leave his position as Managing Director of Quin-Sea Fisheries Ltd. with immediate effect. The role will be filled by Joanne Gibbons, currently Managing Director of Royal Greenland North American Sales, who has been appointed Interim Managing Director.
When announcing the reorganization and change in leadership, Royal Greenland assured that Newfoundland remains a core part of its business and that it is "fully committed to strengthening its operations and long-term presence in the region." In addition, its CEO, Preben Sunke, thanked the outgoing Managing Director for his work at the helm of the company during its most challenging times.
"Simon has played a central role in guiding Quin-Sea Fisheries Ltd. through the transfer of ownership, navigating the challenges of COVID-19 and volatile markets, and helping to double the intake of snow crab. We thank him for his significant contributions and wish him the best in his future career," Sunke said.
For her part, as a native of the region, his replacement, Joanne Gibbons, expressed her delight at her appointment. "Being born and raised in Newfoundland, it is a privilege to take the lead of one of the largest seafood processors in Newfoundland and Labrador," she said. "I am looking forward to continuing the positive contributions of Quin-sea Fisheries Ltd. to the local communities and the seafood industry in general."
According to the company's statement, this integration will ensure closer alignment across the value chain and create synergies that strengthen profitability, benefit employees, and support the communities in which it operates.
Therefore, Royal Greenland also announced that a new Head of Production will be hired to oversee all production and raw materials purchasing in Newfoundland, reporting directly to the Group's Executive Vice President of Production.
"When asked to take on a responsibility of this significance, one cannot say no," Royal Greenland's new Chairman, Niels Thomsen, commented on his appointment.
Photo: Royal Greenland.
The change in leadership at its Newfoundland subsidiary has not been the only one at Royal Greenland. Recently, the seafood company also announced the appointment of Niels Thomsen as its new Chairman of the Board, replacing Maliina B. Abelsen, who had held the position since 2022 and stepped down after an extraordinary general meeting.
Formerly Deputy Chairman, Thomsen said he was grateful for the trust the owner had placed in him by choosing him as Chairman of Royal Greenland. "When asked to take on a responsibility of this significance, one cannot say no – especially when considering the company's role and importance to the entire Greenlandic community," he said.
"Royal Greenland is a cornerstone of Greenland's economy and a key player in the international fishing industry," the new Chairman said about the state-owned seafood company. "We have been through challenging years, but we are now beginning to see progress. However, the work has only just begun. We need to further develop, strengthen our commercial focus, and ensure that we are at least as competitive as our largest international competitors," he continued.
"My goal is for Royal Greenland to be both a well-run and competitive company while also living up to the social responsibility that comes with being Greenland's largest company. We need to focus on investments in the commercial activities we have here in the country, with the aim of creating results that both strengthen our global position and contribute to growth and opportunities in Greenland," he added.
For her part, taking stock of her years in the position, the outgoing Chairperson, Maliina B. Abelsen, said that it had been an honor to lead the work during the demanding restructuring process and added that she was handing over to Niels Thomsen with confidence. "It has required tough decisions, but the most important thing for me has always been that Royal Greenland contributes to the entire Greenlandic community. I am proud of the results we have achieved together," she said.
In addition to the change in chairmanship, the extraordinary general meeting - held after the presentation of Royal Greenland's H1 2025 financial report - also welcomed a new member to the Board, Susanne Kure, who has a strong financial background and brings extensive business and board experience from various companies, investment funds, and pension funds.
