Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen is the new CFO for Salmon Evolution, which is building a 36,000-tonne on-land salmon farm, illustrated.

On-land salmon farmer names new finance chief

Salmon Evolution, which is developing a 36,000-tonne on-land salmon farm in Norway, has appointed Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen as chief financial officer.

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The position that has been vacant since previous CFO Håkon André Berg was appointed chief executive in June this year.

Schaug-Pettersen, 37, comes from Ålesund-based salmon and trout farmer Hofseth International and brings both seafood and corporate finance experience. He has held the position as senior vice president finance and business development in Hofseth since 2016. Prior to joining Hofseth, he worked for nine years as a corporate finance professional in First Securities/Swedbank.

The new CFO is expected to take up his role in Salmon Evolution on January 1, 2021.

Håkon André Berg: Impressed with new CFO's background.

Adding value

“I am very pleased to include Trond Håkon in the management team of Salmon Evolution,” said Berg in a press release.

“He has a broad background from both the capital markets and the seafood industry, and I am sure that he will add significant value to our company from day one.” 

“I am excited to join the Salmon Evolution team and I am looking forward to taking part in the development of a leading global salmon player,” said Schaug-Pettersen.

Hybrid system

Salmon Evolution began construction of a salmon farm on Indre Harøy in Hustadvika municipality in May.

Its largest shareholder is Roger Halsebakk, founder of the world’s biggest wellboat company, Sølvtrans, who owns 17.6% of Salmon Evolution through his investment company, Ronja Capital AS.

Salmon Evolution recently entered into an agreement with Dongwon Industries, one of the world’s leading seafood companies based in South Korea, where Dongwon paid NOK 50 million (£4.3m) for a 9.7% stake in the company.

The companies plan to build a land-based fish farm in South Korea by utilising Salmon Evolution’s mix of flow-through and recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology.