O&L group loses top executive to Japan

HANGANA Seafood’s Board of Directors announced the resignation of Volker Kuntzsch as Managing Director of Hangana Seafood. Kuntzsch will take up the position of Global Marketing Director for Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd in Tokyo (Japan) effective 1st February 2008. Sven Thieme, Executive Chairman of the Ohlthaver & List Group, Hangana’s parent company, confirmed the international appointment adding that he regretted Kuntzsch’s leaving, but was equally excited for the opportunity it presents for Kuntzsch’s professional development at a global fishing company.

Said Thieme: "It proves that our group of companies is doing the right thing in terms of development with the result that our people are of international interest." Thieme announced that Kunt - zsch will remain a non-executive director on the board of Hangana em phasising that Kuntzsch’s experience will still remain available to Hangana and the Namibian fishing industry.

Adding to this he said: "This obviously presents the opportunity for Hangana Seafood to open more of the eastern markets." Thieme thanked Kuntzsch for his dedication and accomplishments recounting that Hangana had under Kuntzsch’s tenure undergone a remarkable turn-around and that the company was transforming into a fi nancially sound and sustain able business.

Said Thieme: "Volker has lead Hangana into a new era of value addition. He’s brought Hangana closer to its stated mission to become a world leader in adding value to hake. His accomplishments include the development of a new value adding factory, improvement of product portfolio, sharper focus on customer service, improved labour relations and increased focus on internal and external communication."

Kuntzsch joined Hangana Seafood in 2005 during a time marked by volatile exchange rates, rising fuel costs and poor catches. On his part, Kuntzsch expressed his appreciation for the support and co-operation received during his tenure, saying: "It has been a challenging and rewarding time at Hangana.

It’s not easy to leave Namibia; it’s not easy to leave home. But I look forward to this new challenge; at the same time I will endeavour to continue assisting Hangana to my best ability in my position as non executive director." A successor, the board further stated, will be announced in due course. Hangana Seafood was established in 1997 and is a leading Namibian producer of white fish, predominantly Cape Hake.

The company employs in excess of 1 000 employees and complies with South African, European and American food standards. Hangana Seafood’s fish products are exported to the USA, Australia and several European countries. Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd is based in Tokyo and is Japan’s second largest marine products firm with a turnover of approximately US$ 6 billion. Its principal activities are fishing and fishing related operations such as processing sea foods.