Trond Williksen now Chief Executive Officer.
British aquaculture genetics company Benchmark writes that it has appointed Trond Williksen as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company, with effect from 1 June 2020.
Highly experienced
Trond Williksen is highly experienced in the international aquaculture and seafood industries, having held senior executive positions in the sector for over 20 years.
As well as being the CEO of one of the world’s major salmon farmers SalMar, prior to this, he was CEO of AKVA group for six years. He also previously held a number of senior roles in Aker’s Seafood, Ocean Harvest and BioMarine divisions.
The experienced player has also held a number of advisory and non-executive director roles in the industry including as Chairman of the Board of The Research Council of Norway, Oceans Portfolio; Chairman of Mørenot Group, which provides solutions to fishery and aquaculture customers; Chairman of the Board of Calanus, a biomarine company; and Board Member of SinkabergHansen, a Norwegian integrated aquaculture company.
Deep, relevant aquaculture expertise
Following Williksen’s appointment, Peter George will revert to his former position as Non-Executive Chairman. George said that he was delighted to welcome the Norwegian to Benchmark. “He brings deep, relevant aquaculture expertise and has proven operational, strategic, M&A, and managerial experience spanning both producers and technology providers in the industry”,
“I am confident that under his leadership and with his industry expertise, Benchmark will emerge from the current more difficult environment to realise its potential to become a profitable leading provider of sustainable solutions to the global aquaculture industry.”
Growth
Trond Williksen said he was soon going to execute a strategy for profitability for the company.
“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to join Benchmark, a leading provider of sustainable solutions to the global aquaculture industry. Benchmark is strategically well-positioned within a sustainable industry that holds vast opportunities and potentials for the future. I am looking forward to joining a very competent team, positioning and executing on a strategy for profitability and growth in the future”.
