Tri Marine International has hired former secretary of the Fiji Tuna Boat Association to head the company’s Fresh and Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) Frozen Tuna Operations overseeing the Pacific region.

In a statement, Tri Marine says Russell Dunham, also a former Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Fish in Suva, is responsible for Tri Marine’s sourcing and processing operations in Solomon Islands and American Samoa and for procurement of high quality tuna throughout the Pacific.

Tri Marine chief operating officer, Joe Hamby says Dunham’s tremendous experience, industry knowledge, reputation, stakeholder relationships and drive will accelerate the already rapid growth the company is experiencing in this non-canning segment of its tuna business.

Hamby also says that Tri Marine is making important investments in the Pacific and those investments require competent managers who share the same ideals and values as Tri Marine. He says Dunham is passionate about quality and for doing the right thing and therefore a perfect fit.

While in the territory last month, Hamby told reporters that the company was moving to recruit a person to head Pacific operations for the Fresh and Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) Frozen tuna operations, saying that this is something new in the industry.

Meanwhile, the company’s chairman and CEO, Renato Curto, will chair the Tuna 2014 conference, themed ‘Working Together Towards A Sustainable Industry’ to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from May 21-23.