– Theresa Log Bergjord, who served as Skretting CEO from November 2017 until June 2024, has joined the board at a handful of Norwegian firms in recent weeks, including the board of offshore salmon-farming endeavor Salmar Aker Ocean.
The firm was formed in 2021 and was the first company to apply for an offshore farming permit in Norway, though development was slowed by regulations from Norway's Directorate of Fisheries.
Salmar Akar Ocean recently tested two pilot projects: an Arctic offshore farming project and another ocean-exposed farming concept called Ocean Farm 1, which utilizes a large semi-submersible cage to raise salmon at sea. Both projects were intended to help the company study strategies for future ocean farming sites.
Bergjord also serves as the chair of the board at energy company Aneo and on the board of directors at investment firm Kverva.
– Serap Gonen has been named the new lead of salmon genomics at Benchmark Genetics.
Gonan brings extensive experience in the study of disease resistance in Atlantic salmon to Benchmark. Formerly a senior geneticist at Norway-based salmon-farming firm Mowi, she most recently studied salmon and trout breeding program structures for Norwegian salmon egg producer AquaGen.
"[Serap] has an outstanding background in scientific research and its application to salmon breeding and will significantly bolster our team, further improving our products and services," Ross Houston, Benchmark director of genetics and innovation, said.
Gonen is expected to lead the study of global genomic innovations at Benchmark to enhance selection in salmon lines, optimize disease resistance, contribute to production design, and participate in research and development of new salmon traits and technologies.
Novo Holdings, the Denmark-based holdings company for life sciences researcher Novo Nordisk Foundation, acquired Benchmark Genetics in November from Benchmark Holdings, its previous holding company, in a deal worth GBP 260 million (USD 319 million, EUR 310 million).
