Francis Yupangco, better known as Francis the Fish Geek on the hit aquarium TV show Fish Tank Kings has joined Hagen. In lieu of building big tanks for rich folks with Living Color, as Aquatic Development Manager for Hagen and its aquatics subsidiaries Francis will be able to improve the aquarium experiences of regular folks.
Francis didn’t become The Fish Geek just by being on a TV Show, but he’s actually a real fish guy who has worked in various aspect of the marine hobby and industry well before joining Living Color and Fish Tank Kings. His extensive aquarium management, design and installation experience make him uniquely suited to bring a new level of Aquariology to the products and development directions of cool aquarium products like the LEDs and pumps of Fluval Sea and the Fluval Marine System.
Hagen is a huge brand in pet care and products, not the least of which is their various aquatics divisions. While AquaClear, Marina and Fluval might be more familiar to freshwater aquarium keepers, the line up of Fluval Sea products that Hagen has lined up are made with great attention to the needs of reef keepers. In addition to driving new developments in the aquatics space, we look forward to seeing what Fluval Sea can do for us reefers with one of our own on the inside.
Full Press Release:
Hagen Names Francis Yupangco Aquatic Development Manager
Mansfield, MA – (For Immediate Release) – A leader in the aquatics market, Hagen is known for a powerful brand lineup that includes Fluval, Fluval Sea, Marina and AquaClear. Now the company has made the team behind those brands stronger with the appointment of Francis Yupangco as Aquatics Development Manager.Yupangco’s educational and career background make him exceptionally qualified for his new position. In addition to earning a BSc. in marine biology from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, he holds an MBA from Royal Roads University. His work experience ranges from managing complex marine habitats to overseeing market development plans for global corporations.
“We’re very excited to welcome Francis on board,” said Rolf Hagen Jr, President and CEO of Rolf C. Hagen Inc. “His skills and experience make him ideal for the position of aquatics development manager. He’s not only very well versed in marine biology, he also has a great grasp of marketing and market development, which enables him to look at things from a variety of angles.”
Prior to joining Hagen, Yupangco served as director of marketing and business development at Living Color Enterprises. Francis co-stars in the National Geographic reality TV series Fish Tank Kings, which features the company and its services. While at Living Color, he worked with a variety of corporate entertainment clients including Disney, Sea World, Rainforest Café and the Florida Marlins Major League Baseball team.
Francis was also director of operations at Issham Aquatics International, where he led aquarium operations at 30 locations across four countries, including major tourist attractions and government institutions, such as the Khalifa Park Maritime Museum, Prince Sultan Science and Technology Center and the Royal Palace Shark Encounter. He was also employed at the prestigious Vancouver Aquarium for seven years as an aquarist and researcher.
Now at Hagen, Yupangco is looking forward to building on the reputation of some of the aquatic industry’s most iconic brands. “This is an exciting opportunity,” he said. “The aquatic brands in our portfolio have always stood for quality; and the company’s commitment to advancing aquatic technology and responsible pet care is second to none, so I am very proud to be associated with Hagen.
The recent launch of www.fluvalaquatics.com and Fluval’s social media initiatives is exciting. I will be able to really interact with our aquarium enthusiasts to discuss everything from fish breeding to LED Lighting and water quality. I look forward to simplifying aquarium keeping through innovation to make the hobby enjoyable and easy for everyone.”
Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rolf C. Hagen Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1955, Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. is a leading international manufacturer and distributor of pet products, pet food and pet supplies with facilities located throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
