Mowi makes top vet new production director

Mowi Scotland has appointed its head of fish health, Meritxell Diez-Padrisa, as the company’s new production director, replacing Gideon Pringle.

The vet takes up her new role in February and will report directly to Ben Hadfield, chief operating officer of Mowi Scotland and Ireland. Pringle is leaving to join Scottish Sea Farms as director of farming.

Diez-Padrisa has worked as head of fish health at Mowi since 2017; she has been employed by the company, Scotland\’s largest salmon farmer, since 2011, with a break in 2015-16 when she was head of fish health for Grupo Culmarex.

Hadfield said: ‘Meritxell will lead a strong and refreshed farming team, and will enhance our production capabilities by leveraging her vast fish health and welfare experience.’

Changes to the company’s mid-management positions are already underway. These, said Mowi, will further support the recently announced changes to its organisational structure and its group management team that sees increased focus on farming activities to improve biological results.

Diez-Padrisa said: ‘I am looking forward to bringing my expertise and focus to this role, to better improve our farming results.

‘We have been very candid about the challenges we face growing salmon in their natural and wild environment, and I am pleased to know, very well, the highly skilled team of experts that will be working with me.’

Diez-Padrisa earned a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Licenciado en Veterinaria) from the University of Barcelona (2008) and Masters in Aquatic Veterinary Studies from the University of Stirling (2009).