John Risley

John Risley is President of Clearwater Fine Foods Incorporated, a diversified holding company operating internationally.

Its primary assets are a controlling stake in Clearwater Seafoods, Canada’s largest fishing company, and Columbus Communications, a provider of network services and cable tv in 21 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. Until recently it was also the majority shareholder in Ocean Nutrition Canada, the world’s largest provider of omega 3 fatty acids to the food and dietary supplement industries. All these companies were founded by Clearwater.

Mr. Risley is very active in community affairs, sitting on the Board of a number of charitable organizations.  He is Chair of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and co-Chair of the Capital Campaign for the Nature Conservancy.  He regularly engages in public policy debate, is Chairman of the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies, a member of the World President’s Organization, The Chief Executives Organization and is a director of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.  He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s President’s Program and Leadership.

He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and was inducted into the Nova Scotia Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 1997.  He has received numerous awards, including Atlantic Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year and a Canada Award for Business Excellence in Entrepreneurship.  He is a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

He lives in Chester, N.S.