Ex-Marine Harvest chief to be new SalMar chairman

Eide has held several executive and board positions in various large business organisations in Norway and is a senior partner in the private equity investment company HitecVision.

SalMar's board comprises seven directors, two of whom are elected by employees. In addition to Eide, Therese Log Bergjord, Margrethe Hauge and Helge Moen are nominated as new board directors. The board of directors also includes Kjell A Storeide (reelected for two additional years in 2016).

SalMar owns 50 per cent of Norskott Havbruk, which in turn owns 100 per cent of Scottish Sea Farms, the UK's second-largest salmon farmer.

Incumbent chairman Bjørn Flatgård, who has served on SalMar's board for 15 years, announced in March that he was not seeking reelection. Board directors Bente Rathe and Tove Nedreberg have also announced that they are stepping down from their positions on SalMar's board. Nedreberg was reelected for additional two years in 2016, but has communicated her desire to resign as board director due to other work-related obligations.

'Highly competent board'

SalMar's main shareholder, Gustav Witzøe, has also announced his intention to step down as board member. As director of processing and sales, Witzøe is a member of SalMar's management group. Witzøe served as the company's acting CEO over the past winter.

"We are extremely pleased that Atle Eide has accepted the nomination to become chair of SalMar's board of directors,” said Helge Moen, chair of the nomination committee. “He brings on board considerable industry experience and competence and is also well acquainted with the company. Along with the other board director candidates, he will provide SalMar with a highly competent board, with broad industry development experience from the aquaculture business, as well as from other sectors.”

The election of the new chairman and directors takes place at SalMar's annual general meeting 6 June.