Nordic Aquafarms' planned RAS facility in Eureka, California, will be the project that maintains the collaboration between the company's new and former CEO.
Photo: Nordic Aquafarms.
The land-based yellowtail kingfish producer Nordic Aquafarms announced that its current Chairman of the Board, Charles Høstlund, has been appointed as the company's new CEO.
Former Chief Executive Officer of Norway Royal Salmon (NRS), the company noted that his extensive experience will be invaluable now that Nordic Aquafarms is entering a new phase in which its goal is to become the leader in yellowtail kingfish farming.
"We are very pleased that Charles Høstlund is taking over as CEO of Nordic Aquafarms," said Haakon Aschehoug, board member of Nordic Aquafarms. "After several years of developing our land-based facilities in Norway and Denmark, we are now entering a phase where the focus will be even more on the operational farming side of the business. We are confident that Charles is the right person to lead the company through this stage. He has extensive experience in leading aquaculture companies, and we have been impressed by his contributions to the Board in recent years."
Charles Høstlund is a long-time industry insider. He has more than 20 years of experience in management positions in the aquaculture industry at well-known companies such as Mowi or the aforementioned Norway Royal Salmon, where he served as CEO from 2014 until it was acquired by Salmar in 2022. Now, the new CEO of Nordic Aquafarms said he is looking forward to taking over the position.
"I know the company and the employees well after several years on the board, and I look forward to working even more closely with the talented employees in the company," Høstlund stated. "The company has three well-functioning land-based facilities for farming yellowtail kingfish and controls the entire value chain from broodstock to sales, which positions us well to develop the company into the leading player within production and sales of yellowtail kingfish."
Charles Høstlund takes over from Bernt Olav Røttingsnes who informed the Board that he wished to resign as CEO. However, the company has pointed out this does not mean that he is leaving Nordic Aquafarms, as he will continue to contribute to the development of the California project. With the change, Røttingsnes will also have the opportunity to take on smaller external projects outside the company.
"We would like to thank the current CEO, Bernt Olav Røttingsnes, for his efforts over nearly six years," said Haakon Aschehoug. "He has led the company well during the development phase, and we are pleased that he will continue to contribute to the company with responsibility for overseeing our activities in California."
Bernt Olav Røttingsnes has led the company since 2018. During his tenure, Nordic Aquafarms has recorded important milestones such as the decision to switch from salmon to yellowtail kingfish farming, or the company's expansion in the United States with projects on both coasts that are, however, progressing at uneven paces, with more progress in California, where Røttingsnes will continue to contribute, than in Maine, where the company has faced a long series of setbacks.
Nordic Aquafarms is a leading player in the international land-based segment of seafood farming now producing yellowtail kingfish. The company operates a hatchery with its own broodstock in Bedsted-Thy, Denmark, and growth facilities in Hanstholm, Denmark, and Fredrikstad, Norway. It is also working on establishing yellowtail kingfish production in Eureka, California, and operates its own RAS design company in Aarhus, Denmark.