Kristian Henriksen and Robert Hundstad shake hands at AQS offices.
Photo: AQS.
AQS, one of Norway's largest aquaculture services companies, announced that Kristian Henriksen, a professional with a solid track record in the aquaculture industry, is its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). The company stated that this appointment is part of its continued growth strategy and reinforces its commercial focus.
"We have built a solid company with strong expertise, close customer relationships, and a unique position in the aquaculture industry. We are now taking the next step in our development, and that means strengthening the commercial side of the organization as well. Kristian has the experience, insight, and ability to execute that will help us achieve this," said CEO Robert Hundstad.
Currently, AQS provides service solutions to the aquaculture industry along the entire Norwegian coast and has experienced significant growth in recent years, especially since in March 2025, the European infrastructure fund Marguerite took half ownership to support fleet expansion and long-term aquaculture services growth in Norway.
Since then, the company has continued to invest in people, vessels, and technology to meet the needs of a constantly evolving sector. Thus, faced with increased activity, investments in new capacity, and the ambition to further strengthen its market position, the company is reinforcing its resources in sales, marketing, customer development, and business development, and it is precisely in this effort that its new hire fits in.
"Our ambition is to be the preferred service partner for the aquaculture industry. To achieve that, we must combine operational excellence with commercial development and close customer engagement. Kristian's appointment is an important step in AQS' continued development," Hundstad stated.
In the release announcing the appointment of its new CCO, the Norwegian operator of service vessels for the aquaculture industry noted that for several decades it has developed its activity based on the challenges and needs encountered at fish farming sites along the Norwegian coast.
"AQS is a company that has been built from the ground up," its CEO continued. "What we know today is the result of thousands of working days at sea and close cooperation with fish farmers along the coast. Our strength lies in our ability to transform practical experience into expertise, technology, and services that create better solutions for the industry."
"Kristian brings valuable experience that will help take this work to the next level," he added, commenting on the strengths of his new Chief Commercial Officer.
According to AQS' announcement, it was precisely that combination of operational experience and future-oriented development that Henriksen pointed out as one of the main reasons why he decided to join the company.
"What impresses me about AQS is its ability to combine practical experience from the aquaculture industry with innovation and continuous improvement. I look forward to getting to know the organization, our customers, and our operations better, and to contributing to the development of new opportunities for both AQS and our customers," the new CCO stated.
For its part, what AQS highlighted most about its new addition is that Henriksen has been a recognized figure in the seafood and aquaculture industry for many years, having held positions such as Partner at BDO Norway, Cluster Manager for NCE Aquatech, and Chief Commercial Officer at OptoScale.
Throughout his career, Kristian Henriksen has worked with business development, technology, strategy, and commercialization across much of the aquaculture value chain. For the past six months, he has worked as an advisor at Norwegian seafood consultancy INAQ.
As Henriksen himself recounted in the LinkedIn post announcing his joining the aquaculture services company, it was precisely that last role as a consultant that led to his arrival at AQS. "It quickly became clear that there wouldn't be any consulting opportunities for AQS," he wrote. "Instead, after a few good conversations with Robert and Ove, another opportunity was put on the table: joining AQS as CCO."
After thanking Chairman Frode Blakstad and CEO Nina Santi "for a great six months at INAQ," which he described as "one of the best seafood consulting agencies out there," AQS' new CCO added: "I'm leaving because of AQS – definitely not because of INAQ." A decision he explained more fully in the Norwegian aquaculture services' company release.
"Having known both Robert and Ove for many years, it quickly became clear after several good conversations that this was an opportunity I wanted to seize. AQS has built a strong position in the aquaculture industry through long-term commitment, high operational expertise, and close collaboration with its customers," he explained.
"At the same time, the company is entering an exciting new phase with new vessels, new services, and ambitious growth plans. Quite simply, it was an opportunity that was too exciting to pass up," Henriksen concluded.