Scottish Sea Farms confirms first key Shetland appointments

Scottish Sea Farms has announced the first two appointments for its new Shetland assets, acquired from Grieg at the end of last year.

Richard Darbyshire, formerly Scottish Sea Farms Orkney Regional Manager and then most recently Northern Isles Regional Manager with responsibility for both Shetland and Orkney, will become Shetland Regional Manager. He will be focusing exclusively on the region’s newly expanded farming estate.

Supporting Darbyshire will be Grant Cumming, previously Managing Director of Grieg Seafood’s Scottish operations, in the role of Operations Manager for Shetland.

Salmon farmer Scottish Sea Farms (SSF), which is co-owned by SalMar and Lerøy Seafood, acquired Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK in December 2021.

Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher said: “Over his 21-year career with the company, Richard has gone from strength to strength, proving time and again his talent for bringing out the best in his teams. During his last 18 months as Northern Isles Regional Manager, he has also amassed an extensive working knowledge of our Shetland activities, quickly gaining the respect of our local farmers.

“Add to this Grant’s in-depth experience of the former Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK team, farms and facilities, and I firmly believe we have the best team at the helm to take our combined estate onto even bigger and better things.”

Amongst the duo’s first priorities will be shaping a new, blended organisational structure bringing together the best of both company cultures; finalising and implementing one cohesive farming strategy across the estate; and setting clear and measurable targets per farm.

Darbyshire commented: “Across the region we have a great marine team who care deeply about doing the right thing by their fish and the environment and are keen to develop and improve further. That’s a great starting point for any Regional Manager and I’m looking forward to playing my part in helping the team deliver.”