AKVA executive named as new CEO for Benchmark Genetics
Salmon ova supplier Benchmark Genetics has announced the appointment of Kristian Botnen as chief executive, starting November 3, 2025.
Benchmark Genetics, which was sold to Danish investor Novo Holdings by Benchmark Holdings earlier this year, said Botnen brings extensive leadership experience from the aquaculture industry, coupled with a strong background in finance and operational management.
Botnen joins from global aquaculture supplier AKVA Group, where he has been chief operating officer since 2022. Prior to this, he served as CEO and COO of Norwegian salmon farmer Lingalaks. He started his career building a solid foundation in finance and banking before moving into operational and general management roles in aquaculture.
Operational excellence
Benchmark Genetics said that throughout his career, Botnen has consistently delivered operational excellence, and exceeded financial and sustainability goals, while building high-performing teams. He holds a Master of Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration, both from BI Norwegian Business School in Norway.
Botnen said: “I am honoured to join Benchmark Genetics at such an exciting time for the company and the industry. Benchmark Genetics has an exceptional team, cutting-edge science, and a strong global footprint. I look forward to building on this foundation to deliver even greater value to our customers, enhance sustainability across aquaculture, and strengthen our role as a trusted partner to the industry.”
New and exciting era
Aleks Engel, partner at Novo Holdings, said: “The board of directors and Novo Holdings are thrilled to welcome Kristian as the CEO of Benchmark Genetics. He combines commercial, operational, and financial acumen with deep industry knowledge.
“We are confident that Kristian, together with the rest of the management team, will lead Benchmark Genetics into a new and exciting era capitalising on new genomic breeding technologies, and enabling our customers to feed the world more efficiently and sustainably. We look forward to seeing the long-term partnerships with Benchmark Genetics’ global customer base growing even deeper over the coming years.”
Benchmark Genetics runs multiple in-house breeding programmes for Atlantic salmon and shrimp, focused on enhancing genetic performance, sustainability, security of
supply, and biosecurity. It operates in major aquaculture markets across Europe, the Americas, and
Asia, serving customers in over 50 countries. The company also offers genetic
services and genotyping services for a wide range of aquaculture species
globally.
