Our Board Chair, George Leonard, is stepping down after 5 years of remarkable service. His management has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of our group, and our employees is deeply grateful for his contributions. Leonard’s tenure has left an indelible mark on FishWise.
In his time with the group, Leonard has helped maintain FishWise regular throughout turbulent occasions. On the heels of the COVID pandemic, FishWise’s longtime CEO stepped down- launching the group into what was by far the best change FishWise had confronted but. Leonard noticed the group by way of this management transition, overseeing the hiring of each an interim director and a everlasting government director, Jenny Barker.
“George has been so beneficiant with the time he lends to FishWise, and his ardour for conservation and sustainable seafood has, little question, made an affect for good for our group and, way more importantly, on the world’s oceans,” stated Ashley Greenley.
When Leonard joined FishWise, he introduced with him a worthwhile perspective. Leonard is the longtime Chief Scientist at Ocean Conservancy, primarily main applications round fisheries and aquaculture, local weather change, and marine protected areas. His insights into broader conservation actions and the science of seafood sustainability have guided FishWise’s improvement lately.
Whereas Leonard has served on the board for 5 years, he has been a pal of the group for for much longer. Reflecting on his earliest impression of FishWise almost twenty years in the past, Leonard says the information spoke for itself.
“I bear in mind when FishWise was born. The mannequin at the moment was to label seafood as pink, yellow, or inexperienced, the place pink means shoppers ought to keep away from these merchandise. I hadn’t thought-about how this would possibly work for retailers who’re within the enterprise of promoting all of the merchandise within the seafood counter. However I’m a scientist by coaching. So present me the information! Fishwise collected the gross sales knowledge and it seems their principle of change labored. Retailers offered much less pink seafood and extra inexperienced and yellow seafood, which was the conservation goal. However importantly, they made more cash total, which is the enterprise goal. The info clearly confirmed that this new nonprofit was actually onto one thing – a win-win for the ocean and seafood companies,” stated Leonard, reflecting on the earliest days of FishWise.
When Leonard was first launched to FishWise, he labored as Senior Science Supervisor at Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch. A lot of his work at the moment centered on advising the general public on tips on how to buy seafood from sustainable sources. However Leonard acknowledged {that a} technique for working with retailers that purchase thousands and thousands of kilos of seafood yearly was lacking from the broader seafood sustainability motion.
“At Monterey Bay Aquarium, we have been offering recommendation primarily to shoppers, to not retailers, and we acknowledged that there wanted to be engagement in that house. FishWise noticed that as nicely and jumped on it,” Leonard displays, “We might help trade make higher decisions for each the underside line and for the planet.”
The FishWise employees wish to specific our heartfelt gratitude to George Leonard for his unwavering dedication and repair. As he transitions from the board of administrators, we want him each success in his future endeavors. His contributions to our group and the sustainable seafood motion at giant won’t be forgotten.
Study extra about our management and Board of Administrators, right here.
