Director of Farming Gideon Pringle will now cover Shetland role.
In a press release, Lerøy-Salmar-owned Scottish Sea Farms writes that Regional Production Manager for Shetland Graham Smith is to leave the company after sixteen years.
Smith said that he was seeking a new role closer to home to spend more time with family. A spokesperson from the company told SalmonBusiness that he is still considering roles.
“Leaving behind the company, my colleagues and Shetland itself after so many years is incredibly tough,” said Smith. “However, after a decade of travelling back and forth from my home on mainland, the time feels right to embark on a new career chapter involving less travel and allowing more time to spend with family.”
Commenting on Smith’s departure, Scottish Sea Farms’ Managing Director Jim Gallagher said: “Graham and myself have worked together for all of his 16 years with the company, so it’s hard to see him go. That said, it’s a small and supportive sector and I’m confident we’ll see each other again soon once Graham has decided on his next role.
Smith’s farming career began back in 1986 with husbandry roles at Otter Ferry Salmon, followed by Seabon Salmon in Loch Fyne. In the early 90s, Smith took on his first Site Manager roles with AquaScot where he was responsible for both freshwater and marine farms.
From there, he progressed to Area Manager for Mainstream Farming before joining Scottish Sea Farms in 2004 as Farm Manager of Loch Kishorn which went on to win Marine Farm of the Year at the Crown Estate Scotland Awards during Smith’s reign.
“As work gets underway at Scottish Sea Farms to recruit Smith’s successor, Director of Farming Gideon Pringle will cover his Shetland role with immediate effect, focusing on helping the region’s farm teams deliver the highest standards of fish welfare,” wrote Scottish Sea Farms.
