Phillips Foods Names COO

Phillips Foods Inc. has appointed Paul Opitz its COO, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Opitz, whose most recent role was president of Phillips Asia, will draw on his more than 50 years of seafood production experience to streamline operational efficiencies for the Baltimore-based global seafood processor.

“Paul is the perfect leader to guide our company’s efforts to increase global sales and distribution,” said Phillips president and CEO Steve Phillips. “We are poised to become an even larger player in the global seafood industry, and with Paul’s international perspective plus excellent leadership skills, I am confident we will exceed expectations for decades to come.”

Opitz (left) has worked for Phillips for more than two decades, initially opening the company’s flagship Baltimore restaurant in the mid-1970s. In 1994, he became quality specialist for Phillips Asian operations. Currently, Opitz oversees more than 17 Phillips-owned and -operated processing plants around the world.

“Our global resources and sourcing expertise provide us unique competitive advantages that we will continue to leverage as we increase sales and marketing efforts for our vast domestic and international customer base,” noted Opitz.

Best known for its famous Maryland-style crab cakes and other seafood dishes served at more than 20 Phillips Seafood Restaurants throughout the Eastern time zone, Phillips is also the leading importer and distributor of crab meat and other crab products in the United States.