Chilean salmon company AquaChile CFO Francisco Lepeley bowed out on Jan. 31 after serving the company for almost four years, according to his recent LinkedIn post.

"It was definitely a good decision to relocate with the family to Southern Chile back in 2016, but it’s time to go back to Santiago and pursue new challenges," Lepeley wrote in the post.

"I am leaving with the satisfaction of a job well done and of having completed a smooth transition into my role for my successor."

Miguel Lavagnino already assumed the position as AquaChile CFO, the company confirmed for IntraFish.

Lepeley joined AquaChile as CFO in May 2016. In August 2018, Chilean agro-giant Empresas Agrosuper – already the owner of salmon farmer Los Fiordos – announced it would acquire AquaChile, with the price tag for the deal put at $850 million (€747.8 million). The company is now the world's second-largest salmon farmer.

AquaChile's earnings surged about 21 percent in the first six months of 2019 compared to the year prior due to increased volumes of fish sold at a higher selling prices.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) climbed to $76.5 million (€69.2 million) during the first half of 2019.