Bord Iascaigh Mhara chief in move to Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland
Mr Whooley formally resigned at BIM’s management meeting on Wednesday night. His resignation from BIM is effective from August 30. The State’s fisheries board is expected to appoint an interim shortly.
Mr Whooley said: “The staff in BIM have an incredible knowledge of the industry; they are dedicated and passionate about what they do and this, together with innovative thinking makes BIM a great organisation. I have enjoyed my time in BIM and I know the organisation will continue to build on its strong tradition and deliver further growth in the seafood sector.”
Mr Whooley led BIM since 2007, introducing numerous innovations in strategic planning and human resources. His salary in 2013 was €121,000. BIM is the Irish state agency responsible for developing the Irish sea fishing and aquaculture industries.
In its recent 2013-17 strategy document, BIM outlined plans to deliver 1,200 new jobs and €1bn in seafood sales, producing an extra 45,000 tonnes of raw material and growing exports by an additional €650m.
The BIM board praised Mr Whooley for the wide-ranging positive changes he has made to the organisation during his tenure and the contribution he has made towards the development of the Irish seafood sector.
BIM chairman Kieran Calnan, said: ‘Since joining BIM, Jason has led the refocusing of the agency into the modern semi-state company that we see today. I would like to sincerely thank Jason for his work in BIM. I know that he is leaving BIM with a legacy of change and increased ambition.”
Mr Whooley’s imminent role with Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland in Killybegs will see him take on a €35m project that will create up to 70 jobs when it opens in 2016, and a further 50 jobs in the construction phase.
The new facility will have the capacity to process up to 50,000 tonnes of raw material annually. It will be used to extract high-end proteins, oils and calcium from fish for use as food ingredients.
These include valuable marine proteins as well as lipids, which are naturally occurring molecules and sfat-soluble vitamins.
The processing facility is being developed by the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation in conjunction with a specialist Norwegian company.
Prior to joining BIM, Mr Whooley spent 11 years as CEO of the Irish South & West Fishermen’s Organisation.
