Jason Driskill (left) is Vice President of seafood for Texas-based retailer H-E-B, and Gustavo Lara (right) is Managing Director for Seafood at Cargill's Food Enterprise.
Photo: Seafood Nutrition Partnership.
Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) has announced the appointment of a new Chair and a new Vice Chair to its Board of Directors, renewing the leadership of its top management. Jason Driskill, Vice President of seafood for Texas-based retailer H-E-B, will fill the first position, while the second role will be filled by Gustavo Lara, Managing Director for Seafood at Cargill's Food Enterprise.
"Together, Jason and Gustavo exemplify the creative leadership SNP needs as it scales the national seafood campaign, advises federal policymakers on seafood and nutrition, and educates the public on the growing scientific evidence of the health benefits of a seafood-rich diet," said of them Paul Doremus, immediate past chair of SNP's Board of Directors and Vice President for Policy and Sustainability Strategy at Trident Seafoods, commenting on their appointments.
SNP is the leading nonprofit organization in the U.S. building awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of seafood. Its goal is to address the nation's public health crisis through educational programs that inspire people to incorporate more seafood and omega-3s into their diets to improve health following the USDA Dietary Guidelines.
As mentioned above, Jason Driskill, the new Chair of Seafood Nutrition Partnership's Board of Directors, is also the VP of seafood for Texas-based retailer H-E-B, a position in which he oversees the procurement, sales, merchandising, marketing, and sustainability of fresh and frozen seafood, as well as sushi, in all Texas stores.
With 25 years of experience in the seafood industry, Driskill has an extensive background in distribution, processing, and retail sales. In the release on his appointment as Chair, SNP highlighted that he has been instrumental in improving H-E-B seafood sourcing and establishing key industry partnerships, working with groups like the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) to make responsible sourcing choices.
Prior to joining H-E-B in 2009, he led Pacific Seafood's Texas operations, gaining experience in seafood production and storage. Driskill, said the release, is committed to teaching consumers about the ease of cooking seafood and its health benefits, helping them make informed choices.
Indeed, Jason Driskill is not new to the SNP Board, as his predecessor as Chair, Paul Doremus, recalled. "As Vice Chair over the past two years, Jason has launched the 'Fall in Love With Seafood' campaign, initiating its first implementation and demonstrating the program's strong returns," Doremus noted.
"His deep understanding of the evolving retail seafood landscape, commitment to industry collaboration, and vision for increasing seafood consumption will be invaluable as he leads the Board," the outgoing Chair of Seafood Nutrition Partnership added.
The renewal of the SNP Board of Directors was completed with the appointment of Gustavo Lara as Vice President. Managing Director for Seafood at Cargill's Food Enterprise, in this role he shapes the company's commercial strategy in seafood.
Lara joined Cargill in 2016 but has more than 17 years of experience in marketing, sales, and business development at leading multinational companies, including DuPont and Dell Technologies, in addition to Cargill. Since his arrival, he worked with the company's Animal Nutrition Enterprise and Corporate Strategy Team before helping found the company's Seafood Business.
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gustavo Lara is an Electrical Engineer by training and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. As such, according to the SNP release, he is passionate about improving access to nutritious, affordable and sustainable food, and doing so using science, technology, and engineering.
With this appointment, the Managing Director for Seafood at Cargill's Food Enterprise joins Jason Driskill and the other top leaders and experts in the seafood and nutrition sectors that make up the Seafood Nutrition Partnership's volunteer Board of Directors.
Commenting on Lara's appointment as Vice Chair of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership Board of Directors, the outgoing Chair, Paul Doremus, said, "Gustavo brings extraordinary market knowledge, business discipline, and dedication to science, sustainability, and community engagement to the Board."
