Yngve Myhre is a former CEO of Salmar, part owner of Scottish Sea Farms. Photo: kyst.no

Benchmark adds to board in bid to maximise value

UK-based aquaculture biotechnology and food chain sustainability business, Benchmark, has named former Salmar and Aker Seafoods chief executive Yngve Myhre as one of two new non-executive directors.

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The other is US-based former GlaxoSmithKline and Merck (MSD) executive Hugo Wahnish, who Benchmark says has expertise in aggressively growing businesses and in the commercialisation of medicines and animal health products.

Hugo Wahnish: Former Merck executive is an expert in aggressively growing business, says Benchmark. Photo: LinkedIn

Norway-based Myhre has more than 20 years of experience in the aquaculture sector as a senior adviser and investor, and is now head of the Chilean salmon producer Nova Austral, recently acquired by Cargill. He is also on the board of the Mediterranean company Andromeda and research company Nofima. He is currently based in Norway.

Expertise and experience

Wahnish was Chief Commercial Officer Animal Health at Merck, having responsibility for Merck's commercial operations worldwide. Since stepping down from that role in 2012, he has been an independent senior advisor with several multinational companies, private equity  groups and consulting firms, primarily in the animal health sector.

Benchmark chairman, Alex Hambro, said the combined expertise and experience in the aquaculture and pharmaceutical industries of Myhre and Wahnish would broaden the board of Benchmark as the company sought to maximise value from its products and technologies.

As well as its animal health business, Benchmark also owns Norwegian salmon egg producer SalmoBreed.