Canned seafood giant Bumble Bee Seafoods CEO Jan Tharp will be leaving her role after 12 years with the company.
Jerry Chou, the chairman of the Bumble Bee Seafood Company, will assume the position of CEO and is working closely with Tharp on a smooth transition, Bumble Bee told IntraFish.
Tharp led Bumble Bee through a lengthy bankruptcy and subsequent sale of assets to an affiliate of long-time partner, FCF Fishery, a worldwide producer and distributor of seafood products. FCF acquired the company’s North American assets for $928 million (€841.9 million) in 2020.
Chou was described in the bankruptcy documents as a shareholder and manager of special projects for FCF at the time.
The sale came a few months after the iconic seafood brand filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
During her tenure, Tharp also created a $40 million (€35.4 million) accelerator fund "focused on further closing the gap on some of the biggest industry challenges in the sustainability space."
In March of 2020, plant-based seafood producer Good Catch announced a joint distribution venture with Bumble Bee Foods, as well as new backing from celebrities Woody Harrelson, Shailene Woodley, Paris Hilton and Lance Bass. Over the summer, the brand also announced the launch of the new line of frozen appetizers and entrees.
The Good Catch and Bumble Bee partnership was a breakthrough for a plant-based seafood company, marking the first time a major seafood company had so publicly committed to what some in the industry consider a threat.
Prior to joining Bumble Bee, Tharp served as senior vice president of the supply chain for Starkist.
“I am so proud of all our team members around the globe who helped move this fantastic business forward in bold and innovative ways,” said Tharp.
“Jerry is a thoughtful leader, a successful entrepreneur and someone who cares deeply about the company and everyone in it.”
