Seafood Council’s former China envoy returns to old job

A former Norwegian Seafood Council envoy to China is returning to his previous role.

Sigmund Bjørgo (46) (pictured) takes over from Andreas Thorud, who has left after three years for a senior post in China with the land-based salmon farmer, Nordic Aqua Partners.

Børge Grønbech, Director of Global Operations at the Council, said: “Sigmund Bjørgo is strategically strong and has in-depth knowledge of both the seafood industry and the Chinese market.”

“He has previously been a seafood envoy to China and has done a formidable job for us for many years, so we are extremely pleased to have him back.”

Bjørgo was employed by the Seafood Council for the first time in 2011. Then he took up the position of seafood envoy to China and Hong Kong, a position he held until 2018. For the next three years, he was the Seafood Council’s envoy to Sweden.

He said: “I had 10 great years at the Seafood Council and am both proud and humbled to be back.

“I am very much looking forward to returning to Shanghai and further developing the Chinese market together with the Norwegian seafood industry.”

He said China has “unimaginable possibilities”, adding: “Since I moved from Shanghai in 2018, Norwegian seafood exports have increased by as much as 129% in value. It shows what a great appetite the Chinese domestic market has for Norwegian seafood.”

Bjørgo starts his new position on 1 July.