In global business, growth without vision can be reckless. Pacific Seafood understands that meaningful international expansion demands the right leadership, cultural understanding, and a commitment to shared values. As the company launches its European operations from Hamburg, Germany, it has entrusted that vision to two experienced leaders: Ashton Meier and Stephan Kleemeyer.
Together, they are laying the groundwork for a new chapter in sustainable seafood that spans oceans and unites markets.
Ashton Meier: Global Business Development with Integrity
As Vice President of Business Development, Ashton Meier is no stranger to complex markets or long-term strategy. A veteran of the Pacific Seafood family, Meier was instrumental in expanding the company’s U.S. footprint over the past decade. With a reputation for balancing profitability with sustainability, he is the architect of Pacific’s international push.
Meier brings an adaptive leadership style rooted in listening, strategic partnerships, and trust-building. Under his guidance, the European strategy is not just about exporting product—it’s about creating local value, forming regional alliances, and becoming a trusted supplier in highly regulated markets.
His mandate? To ensure the European division lives up to Pacific’s core values: sustainability, reliability, and community empowerment.
Stephan Kleemeyer: Navigating EU Markets from the Inside
A Hamburg native with deep expertise in European seafood trade, Stephan Kleemeyer serves as General Manager of Pacific Seafood Europe. He brings with him more than 20 years of experience in operations, sales, and compliance across the continent.
Kleemeyer’s background includes key roles in German and Dutch seafood companies, where he honed his skills in logistics, regulation, and multicultural team management. He understands the nuances of EU policy, consumer behavior, and the high expectations European clients place on traceability and food safety.
As the bridge between Pacific’s global operations and local European needs, Kleemeyer is building a team that reflects the region’s diversity and commitment to sustainability.
Culture Meets Strategy
One of the most notable aspects of the Meier-Kleemeyer leadership model is their shared respect for both corporate mission and regional identity. The Hamburg office isn’t a carbon copy of Pacific’s U.S. headquarters. Instead, it has been shaped by European values: transparency, efficiency, and environmental integrity.
This cultural fluency has already yielded results. Early feedback from distributors and regulatory bodies has been overwhelmingly positive, with praise for Pacific’s openness, its willingness to localize offerings, and its commitment to long-term presence.
Leadership Through Empowerment
Both Meier and Kleemeyer prioritize team development. Following the successful U.S. rollout of the Schoox learning platform, Pacific’s European staff are receiving access to the same tools for skill-building and advancement. Leadership training, language support, and sustainability workshops are part of the onboarding process.
Hiring practices also reflect Pacific’s equity goals. The Hamburg office is gender-diverse, multi-lingual, and poised for growth with a team that represents the communities it serves.
Setting the Standard for Global Seafood Leadership
What sets Pacific’s European leadership apart is their shared clarity of purpose. They know that success in the EU isn’t about moving product—it’s about earning trust. From environmental certifications to compliance with complex EU regulations, Meier and Kleemeyer have made Pacific a name synonymous with accountability.
Their team has already begun forging partnerships with retailers, restaurant groups, and NGOs, setting the stage for future B2B and B2C growth.
European Expansion
As Mission 31 accelerates, the work of Meier and Kleemeyer will serve as a blueprint for future expansions. Whether it’s establishing logistics networks in Benelux or forming processing partnerships in the Mediterranean, their leadership ensures Pacific Seafood will continue to grow responsibly, ethically, and strategically.
With these two leaders at the helm, Pacific Seafood isn’t just expanding across borders. It’s expanding its legacy of integrity, quality, and care.
