SalMar to poach Williksen from Akva
Trond Williksen is stepping down as CEO of Akva at the end of the year to take over as head of SalMar – one of the parent companies of Scottish Sea Farms.
Williksen will replace Leif Inge Nordhammer, who, after serving as CEO during two periods that comprise a total of more than 17 years, has asked to be relieved of his duties. Williksen was CEO of Akva Group since 2011, and has long experience from the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
With nearly 30 years of experience from different positions in the fisheries and aquaculture industries, the 52-year-old has led Akva through a period of strong growth over the last 6 years. Before this, he held different management positions in the Aker Group's fisheries section, and worked as a KPMG consultant to the fisheries industries.
Williksen started his career in the Norwegian Fishermen's Association, before joining first the aquaculture company Midt-Norsk Havbruk, and then Norske Fiskeoppdretteres Forening (currently Norwegian Seafood Federation). He is a university college graduate of Fisheries Economics from Bodø, Norway, and holds an MBA from the University of Washington.
"In Trond Williksen, SalMar ASA has secured the service of a new CEO with long experience and a strong position in the fisheries and aquaculture industries. At the same time, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Leif Inge Nordhammer for his performance at the helm of SalMar, where he has contributed greatly to the company's development over the past few years. With the appointment of Trond Williksen, we intend to continue the company's positive trend going forward," said Bjørn Flatgård, Chairman of the Board of SalMar.
Trond Williksen will take up the position as CEO of SalMar from 1 January 2017. Leif Inge Nordhammer will continue as CEO until further notice, and has agreed to take on assignments for the company thereafter.
Leif Inge Nordhammer first headed up SalMar from 1996 to 2011 - a period characterized by strong growth and good financial and operational results. After two and a half years, Nordhammer returned to the position as CEO in January 2014.
"After nearly 18 years in SalMar, I have decided it is time to move on. When I returned to the company in 2014, I had clear ideas about how to take the company further. Much of that process has now been completed and the time is right to leave the helm to a new captain, who can ensure that SalMar continues its positive trend, and help the industry evolve further," said Nordhammer.
