Veteran aquaculture executive starts a new chapter with Ocean Tales

A seasoned executive whose 40-year career includes 25 years in senior roles at AKVA has joined Ocean Tales, a Norwegian company that says it helps aquaculture suppliers become more profitable, both nationally and internationally.

Trond Severinsen’s quarter century at global supplier AKVA included roles as country manager in Canada, chief marketing officer (CMO), chief operating officer (COO) and head of technology and development.

He played a key role in building up the company’s operations in Canada and subsequently its export business from Bryne, Norway - with sales to over 50 countries and the establishment of subsidiaries in countries including Turkey, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Iran.

At Ocean Tales, he will focus in particular on assisting clients with business and technology development, strategy and networking, as well as internationalisation and consulting with regard to export and import of aquaculture technology.

A unique asset

“This was a crucial piece of the puzzle for us to put in place. We are growing rapidly, and our projects often span national borders. With his global network and extensive experience, Trond is a truly unique asset,” Pål von Zinke Herstad, managing director and co-founder of Ocean Tales, said in a press release.

In recent years, Severinsen has served as CCO and later CTO at Ovum AS, the company behind floating closed containment system ‘The Egg’. He is currently finalising some ongoing projects at his own consultancy firm, Vannfast AS, before joining Ocean Tales as industry and commercial growth specialist.

“I founded Vannfast in 2020 with a commercial focus on helping suppliers with technology and market development, as well as various due diligence processes for investors,” said Severinsen.

“It has been many years of exciting and varied assignments all over the world, covering everything from salmon to prawns and warm-water species. But there’s only so much you can achieve on your own, and together with highly competent colleagues at Ocean Tales, a much larger market is opening up where we can jointly offer more services to more clients globally.”