Briana Warner founded Atlantic Sea Farms in Biddeford, Maine in 2018.
Photo: Atlantic Sea Farms.
Maine-based regenerative seaweed farming company Atlantic Sea Farms is undergoing a change of leadership, with the announcement that its founder and CEO Briana Warner has decided to step down at the end of January.
Taking over the helm of the firm as interim CEO is Mikel Durham, an experienced seafood industry executive and board member who was formerly CEO of American Seafoods Group.
Founded by Warner in 2018, Atlantic Sea Farms has undergone impressive expansion, becoming the USA's top seaweed producer through its partnerships with kelp farmers, and commercialising a wide range of seaweed products available in over 4,000 retail locations. The company began by working with two farmers and now collaborates with 40 partner farmers, who last year harvested over 1.30 million pounds of seaweed.
In a press release announcing the changes, Warner said that it had been an "incredible privilege" to work with the partner farmers and staff at Atlantic Sea Farms, and indicated that she would be remaining in an advisory role following the leadership transition.
Incoming CEO Mikel Durham joined the board of directors of Atlantic Sea Farms in 2024, and also serves on the boards of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Yum China, the largest restaurant group in China. She was previously Chairperson of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers from 2018 to 2022.
The leadership transition comes hot on the heels of Atlantic Sea Farms' recent successful equity raise, securing $3.8 million from investors including True Wealth Ventures, Third Nature Investors, and Builders Bridge.
