John Risley
John Risley | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 26, 1948 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Co-founder of Clearwater Seafoods, founder of Ocean Nutrition Canada, co-founder of Columbus Communications |
John Carter Risley (born April 26, 1948) is a Canadian billionaire entrepreneur engaged in sectors such as fisheries, nutritional supplements, and telecommunications. He is recognized as a co-founder of Clearwater Seafoods.
Early life and career
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Risley is the son of Robert Campbell Risley, who transitioned from military police service to insurance brokerage, and Patricia Anne Bourke. Forgoing university education, he began his professional journey in real estate. In 1976, during a downturn in the housing market, he initiated a lobster enterprise based in Bedford, Nova Scotia.
Clearwater Fine Foods
Established in 1976, Clearwater expanded rapidly over ten years to become one of the foremost global seafood enterprises by specializing in premium shellfish such as scallops, lobster, clams, coldwater shrimp, and crab for international export. The company possesses the largest Canadian quotas for these shellfish varieties and by 2008 had secured exclusive offshore lobster rights throughout Atlantic Canada along with all Arctic surf clam rights. Its fleet comprised ten factory freezer vessels—the most extensive in Canada—and totaled 21 ships worldwide. Additionally, its Argentinian fleet focuses on harvesting Antarctic scallops.
After converting to an income trust in 2002, Risley delegated operational leadership to Colin MacDonald. Despite facing challenges including a shipyard mishap that damaged a new vessel and fluctuations in the stock market, Clearwater successfully rebounded and stands today as one of the largest vertically integrated companies involved in shellfish harvesting, processing, and distribution globally. The company earned the Rabobank Innovation Award in 2014 and expanded its reach by acquiring MacDuff Shellfish Group—the United Kingdom’s largest shellfish producer—in 2016.
Ocean Nutrition Canada
Risley holds a principal ownership stake in Ocean Nutrition Canada, which he founded in 1997 to produce dietary supplements derived from fish oils. The company’s headquarters and research facilities are located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with manufacturing plants situated in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, Arcadia, Wisconsin, and Peru. It ranks as the world’s leading manufacturer of omega-3 fatty acids.
In 2010, Ocean Nutrition identified ONC T18 B, an exceptionally productive algae strain capable of producing oil at rates sixty times higher than conventional algae used for biofuel production. This discovery led to a four-year research initiative aimed at exploring its potential as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Columbus Communications
Risley was a key shareholder and co-founder of Columbus Communications, a Caribbean-based cable television and internet provider launched in 2004 alongside Brendan Paddick. Operating out of Freeport, Bahamas, Risley held a position on its board of directors. In March 2015, Cable & Wireless Communications acquired Columbus for US$1.85 billion. Currently, Risley serves as a non-executive director at Cable & Wireless.
Gifts and Donations
Reflecting his enduring relationship with Dalhousie University and its partners, Risley contributed 25 million Canadian dollars to the Ocean Frontier Institute, an oceanographic research center affiliated with the university.
Personal life
Judy MacDonald from Halifax is Risley's former spouse. His expansive 32,000-square-foot estate near Chester, Nova Scotia offers views of the Atlantic and is situated on land once owned by Joseph N. Pew, Jr., the founder of Sunoco. Risley enlarged this estate by adding 210 more acres. The grounds feature a grand residence, a barn housing cattle that were originally from the Rockefeller family, and Dutch Warmblood horses which he actively competes with.
In 2010, their daughter Sarah Risley wed Guy Barnett, a British crew member who served aboard Risley's yacht.
Risley’s brother, Robert Risley, is a prominent figure in Halifax’s hospitality industry as a restaurateur, caterer, and hotel owner.
In 1998, Risley received the honor of being named an officer of the Order of Canada.
After his separation from Judy Risley (MacDonald), John set up a second home in South End Halifax alongside his partner Amy Gordinier-Regan, who owns Skinfix, along with her two children.
Since 2009, Risley has been the owner of the 246-foot luxury yacht Northern Star, which has been put on the market for $170 million.