Sealaska elects Sarah Dybdahl its new president after 17-month search

Company’s first woman to serve as president currently works as a director at Tlingit and Haida

Sarah Dybdahl, named the new president of Sealaska Corp. this week, addresses the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual Tribal Assembly in 2019. (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska photo)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Sealaska Corp. has elected Sarah Dybdahl as the company’s new president following a 17-month search and restructuring of top leadership.

Dybdahl, the first woman to serve as Sealaska’s president, is currently the director to the Office of the President for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, according to a press release issued by Sealaska on Monday. She is also a previous executive director of the Huna Heritage Foundation, and was or is involved with several other Alaska Native organizations.

"Growing up in Klawock, I was shaped by the strength of our people and our culture, and I look forward to building on that foundation to create opportunities that uplift our communities for generations to come," Dybdahl said in a prepared statement.

Attempts by the Independent to contact Dybdahl on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

She replaces former President and CEO Anthony Mallott, who announced his departure in November of 2023, days after Sealaska announced a lower annual dividend for shareholders for the first time in many years. The company, in a statement responding to concerns expressed by shareholders at the time, noted “the time is right at Sealaska to reposition for continued progress given that we have made strong commitments to our values, and have a unique opportunity to assure that our financial success can continue to lead to impactful shareholder benefits."

Among the changes after Mallott’s departure, which officially occurred Jan. 1, 2024, was a realignment of the top leadership, according to an email to the Independent on Tuesday by Nicole Anderson, a Sealaska spokesperson.

"Following the departure of Anthony Mallott in January 2024, the board undertook a strategic restructuring of leadership by separating the roles of President and CEO," Anderson wrote. "The President’s role is dedicated to advancing Sealaska’s mission and vision, while the CEO’s role is focused on driving revenue growth."

Joe Nelson, executive chair of Sealaska’s board of directors, has been serving as interim president. Anderson said the length of the search for a permanent replacement was because "selecting the right leader for Sealaska is one of the most important responsibilities of our board.

"We committed ourselves to a thoughtful and deliberate process—one that prioritized the needs of our shareholders, recognized the importance of continued growth, and safeguarded the long-term health of our corporation," she wrote. "Over the past 17 months, we conducted an extensive search, carefully evaluating candidates not only for their professional experience, but also for their alignment with Sealaska’s values and their deep connection to our people and communities."

Dybdahl was unanimously elected president by the company’s board of directors, according to the press release. Anderson stated Dybdahl’s leadership "reflects both cultural strength and strategic vision," and the board "extended no offers (to a candidate) until we were certain we had identified the best choice for Sealaska’s future."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.