Alf-Helge Aarskog has been a significant figure in the aquaculture industry through leading both Mowi and Lerøy.

Alf-Helge Aarskog has died

The former Mowi chief executive passed away on Saturday

Ole Andreas Drønen
Ole Andreas Drønen editor, kyst.no
Published Modified

The death of Aarskog, who was at the helm of Marine Harvest / Mowi for almost a decade, reportedly occurred after a short illness, according to Intrafish.

Current Mowi chief executive Ivan Vindheim told Intrafish that it was with great sadness that the company received the news of Alf-Helge's passing this weekend.

"With that, we have lost a dear former boss, colleague and not least a good friend. This is just sad, and was just so much too early. We pay our respects to his memory," Vindheim told the website.

Aarskog had a long career in the aquaculture industry, and in later years was involved in a number of board roles. He was interested in the development of the industry, and even after stepping down as Mowi CEO in November 2019, he continued to contribute professionally and strategically to companies working on new operating methods and technology.

Alf-Helge Aarskog was often seen at various conferences and fairs in the aquaculture industry. Here he was on stage during the Gath conference in Ålesund.

'Happy with my time at Mowi'

During the AquaNext conference in Stavanger last year, Aarskog and Brit Hjeltnes gave a joint presentation on fish health, drawing many interested people into the conference hall.

After the post, Alf-Helge sat down with Fish Farming Expert's Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no, and said, among other things, that he had great faith in keeping farmed fish in closed cages.

"There is no reason why you can't produce more salmon, but you have to reduce the total lice pressure," was his clear opinion.

He also shared some thoughts about his time in Mowi.

"I am happy with my time at Mowi. In hindsight it is always easy to see things that should have been done differently, but what is done is done and hindsight doesn't get you far. Now Mowi must do what suits them," he said.

Alf-Helge Aarskog introduces the Mowi brand in Edinburgh in 2018.

Changing the name

It was during Aarskog's tenure that the company's name was changed from Marine Harvest to Mowi - the name of the company's strain of broodstock -in a move that the CEO announced and explained to investors at a capital markets day the the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh in November 2018.

“Maybe we are not making history today but we are not far from it,” claimed the chief executive, who added that the initiative would allow the company to start connecting with the consumer in a way that salmon farmers hadn’t done before by launching its own up-market brand of MOWI products.

'Deeply grateful'

In an eloquent and moving post on LinkedIn, Norwegian salmon farmer Sondre Eide - whose company has created the Salmon Eye visitor centre and worked with Aarskog to develop the the WaterMoon floating closed containment system - writes that he is deeply grateful for what he learned from Aarskog.

"You brought an entire industry into the modern era, and did so with a style that was as much human as technological," he writes in the post.

Read the translated text below:

Sondre Eide's farewell to Alf-Helge Aarskog

Thank you, Alf Helge.

Then there are people who not only influence your everyday life, but who change the way you see the world.

For me, you were one of them.

You were one of the rare ones who combined wisdom and power, warmth and will, vision and realism. You didn't just build a company, you built a direction.

You brought an entire industry into the modern era, and did so with a style that was as much human as technological.

I am deeply grateful to have learned from you in recent years.

In an industry that often chases pace and numbers, you always reminded me of what actually matters, meaning, direction, responsibility and people.

You saw far, because you understood what aquaculture could be.

And you saw close, because you knew that everything starts with the people who are in it every day.

You had a presence of your own.

You asked questions that made people stop.

You always challenged with truth, not embellishment.

You listened in a way that made people think twice.

And you had a calmness that held even when everything around was shaking.

For me personally, you gave me the courage to think bigger.

You gave me the belief that direction means more than speed.

And you gave me a set of values that I will carry with me as long as I live.

It is strange how strongly a person can influence you, even without big words.

You were one of those who showed that leadership is not about standing at the forefront, but about standing firm, and getting others to do the same.

When we in Eide today work to set the standard for the future of aquaculture, your mindset is at the heart of the foundation.

Because then it was about building something that would last, not just something that would grow.

I will miss you.

The industry will miss you.

And the future of the ocean will feel your imprint for many years to come.

Thank you for everything you taught me.

Thank you for everything you stood for.

Thank you for being a person who made others stronger, without making a big deal out of it.

Rest in peace, Alf Helge.

I am infinitely grateful for everything you gave and everything I have learned from you.

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