Eurofish Says Gracias To Rick Heroux For His Five-Decades Of Dedication

Rick Heroux retired yesterday as Chief Operating Officer of Eurofish. He concludes a 49-year career in the tuna industry, but will remain consultant for the team, he told Atuna.

“I will not be involved in the day-to-day operations, but will stay as an advisor to the management team and reach my 50-year jubilee in the industry for sure,” Heroux told Atuna. He is open for other adisory and appointed positions.

Ecuadorian vertically integrated tuna company Eurofish honored him by expressing its deepest gratitude for five years in guiding the course of Eurofish with passion, commitment and vision. His leadership has driven a period of transformation, growth, and strengthening. He is leaving Eurofish with firm foundations for the future and a strong position in the global tuna industry: “Gracias Rick.”

“I have had a fantastic journey in working in the tuna and fishing industry and made great achievements,” said Heroux. He worked for many companies and their subsidiaries all over the world. The first three years at a firm were the most exciting for him. Initially, he learned to know the business, making improvements, and implementing them. He wanted to retire last year, but a successor had to be found first.

Heroux said he had a humble career, but reading his curriculum vitae, he has an impressive track record in the fishing industry. He graduated in Marine Biology and Food Technology Major at the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. Canada and started in 1976 as Crew Chief Research at the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Government of Canada.

He worked at British Columbia Packers, in several functions, starting as a Quality Control Supervisor in Canada in April 1980. A good year later, he moved to the Philippines as PM Manager Factory and Fleet and returned to Canada early 1986 to advance to the role of General Manager, Alaskan Operations. Heroux was for two years General Manager, Fijian Operations at the tuna cannery in Fiji. In his role as General Manager, Tuna, Salmon and Shrimp Development, he traveled worldwide. He stayed almost two years in Ecuador as President of the BC Packers cannery and frozen loin factory in Manta until August 1998. He ended his career within the company as Director of Procurement before BC Packers sold off its trademarks and fleet and closed its doors in 2001.

Until July 2005, he worked at Princes Tuna Mauritius as Managing Director to switch to Tri Marine International in Singapore to lead their fishing and processing operations as Senior Vice President Production and Technical Services. He made the move to Thailand first at Sea Value as a Chief Operating Officer in 2008 and later to Chotiwat Manufacturing Co. Ltd in the same function until 2018

He became President Tuna Division at Nirsa in Ecuador before he was appointed  Chief Operating Officer  at Eurofish in 2020.