Ruettgers Named CEO of Icicle Seafoods, Humphreys is New Chairman

Icicle Seafoods has announced the appointment of former chief executive officer Amy Humphreys as chairman of the board, effective May 1, saying she will help lead the company’s strategic direction and governance.

Also announced were the appointments of Chris Ruettgers, Icicle’s executive vice president of strategy and corporate development, as the company’s new chief executive officer, and LaDon Johnson as president.

Johnson will retain his responsibilities as Icicle’s chief financial officer, and will now also oversee the company’s accounting and finance, legal and human resource activities, said Dexter Paine, chairman and chief executive officer of Paine & Partners, the New York based firm invested in the food and agribusiness sectors.

Icicle Seafoods was founded as Petersburg Fisheries in Petersburg, Alaska, nearly half a century ago. Now a major diversified provider of seafood, the company’s products include wild Alaska salmon, Atlantic salmon, Alaska crab, Alaska halibut, Pacific cod, black cod/sablefish, Alaska pollock and fish roe.

Icicle is one of a number of worldwide acquisitions of Paine & Partners, whose acquisitions in more than 20 countries represent over $8.7 billion in enterprise value, according to the company’s website.

With her knowledge of Icicle’s day-to-day operations, Humphreys will bring significant experience to the board, help lead Icicle’s strategic direction and governance, and facilitate the transition to Ruettgers and Johnson in their new roles, Paine said.

Ruettgers joined the company in 2011 and has been a member of its board of directors since 2007. He has been instrumental in the growth and development of Icicle’s operating platform and the strategic transactions he has led have grown and diversified Icicle’s operations, Paine said.

Prior to joining Icicle, Johnson was the chief financial officer of Cibus Global, a global plant biotechnology company, and also served as president of international operations for Cibus. He brings to Icicle significant administrative and financial expertise, and is well suited to take on the additional responsibilities of president, Ruettgers said.