The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) has name Ron Rogness as interim executive director of the nonprofit advocate for wild Alaska pollock fisheries.
In his new role announced on March 16, Rogness will oversee day-to-day operations of GAPP and report to the entity’s board of directors. The appointment follows an announcement earlier in March that GAPP CEO Craig Morris was stepping down after seven years to become president of the seafood processor and supplier Keyport, also based in Seattle.
Rogness has most recently served as director of industry relations, partnerships and fishery analysis for GAPP. Prior to that he was vice president of sustainability and corporate relations for American Seafoods Group in Seattle.
Rogness began his career in the seafood industry in 1980 as a commercial harvester, first in Washington state and later in Alaska. After doing graduate work in fisheries economics at the University of Alaska, he was a staff economist for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and later a staff economist and west coast government relations representative for the National Fisheries Institute.
GAPP chairman Jim Johnson said that GAPP would conduct a thorough search to determine whom to appoint as the organization’s next CEO, to continue promotion of the mild flavored groundfish in domestic and international markets.
