Gunnar Nielsen has been appointed to the position of chief financial officer (CFO) at SalMar ASA, and will take up the executive position with effect from 1 April, 2022.
The Frøya Municipality, Norway-headquartered salmon farming group advised that 44-year-old Nielsen has served in a number of senior executive positions in the seafood, banking, industrial, and auditing sectors, and that he has “extensive experience” serving on boards and in financial management, reporting, and communication roles at listed companies.
Nielsen held the position of CFO at Faroe Islands-headquartered Bakkafrost between 2014 and 2019.
SalMar ASA's current CFO, Trine Sæther Romuld, is to transfer to the new position as CFO of SalMar Aker Ocean, which is engaged in aquaculture operations in exposed areas and offshore. SalMar Aker Ocean has the goal of producing 150,000 metric tons (MT) of salmon per year by 2030.
"Trine and her team have done a fantastic job for SalMar. Fortunately, Trine will not be leaving the SalMar family, but has now chosen to switch to a new executive position as CFO for SalMar Aker Ocean. At the same time, I am delighted to have recruited Gunnar to the team as the new CFO of SalMar ASA. His experience of the aquaculture industry, combined with his international experience and knowledge of coastal culture, are qualities that perfectly fit SalMar's clearly expressed growth ambitions," SalMar CEO Gustav Witzøe said.
SalMar had a bumper year in 2021, harvesting 182,000 MT of salmon, which was 20,500 MT more than 2020. Its Fish Farming Central Norway segment contributed 110,700 MT to this total, its Fish Farming Northern Norway division provided 59,800 MT, and its Icelandic Salmon segment supplied 11,400 MT.
Also, at the end of last year, Scottish Sea Farms, a vertically integrated Scottish salmon farming company jointly-owned by SalMar and Lerøy Seafood Group ASA, acquired Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK from Grieg Seafood ASA. This purchase is expected to contribute to an increased 2022 harvest for SalMar.
Photo courtesy of SalMar
