Global salmon farming giant Marine Harvest has promoted the managing director of its Chilean unit to become COO of its operations in both Chile and Norway, with the previous COO of all of its farming operations shifting into a smaller role.
Effective on 1 January, 2017 Per-Roar Gjerde will take over as COO of Norway and Chile operations for Marine Harvest, while former company COO Marit Solberg will take a reduced position overseeing company’s farming in Scotland, Canada, Ireland and the Faroe Islands.
Marine Harvest said it decided split its COO Farming position due to “biological challenges and succession plan for the current COO Farming.” Solberg, 60, has previously discussed possibly retiring in the near future and the company’s move was not a surprise to her, with Marine Harvest openly advertising for the new COO position since September.
Gjerde, 49, was appointed managing director of Marine Harvest Chile in January 2016 and previously served as regional director for Marine Harvest’s Region West, one of the four business united of Marine Harvest Norway. In his new role, he will report to CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog.
Gjerde is a graduate from the Norwegian School of Economics and has completed executive management courses in Norway and France. He started his career as a salesperson with Domstein Salmon and, in 2002, became controller for farming at Fjord Seafood Norway, which was purchased by Marine Harvest in 2006.
Following the move, Marine Harvest's management team for 2017 will be as follows:
• CEO: Alf-Helge Aarskog
• CFO: Ivan Vindheim
• COO Farming Scotland, Canada, Ireland and Faroe Island: Marit Solberg
• COO Farming Norway and Chile: Per-Roar Gjerde
• COO Sales & Marketing: Ola Brattvoll
• COO Fish Feed: Ben Hadfield
• Global Director R&D: Øyvind Oaland
• Chief Strategy Officer: Glenn Flanders
• Global Director HR: Anne Lorgen Riise
• Communication Director: Kristine Gramstad Wedler
