The Oceanbox board, from left: Ole Anders Nøst (founder and board member), Lars Lydersen (board member), Atle Eide (Chair of the Board), Karstein Jenssen (board member) and Mats Christopher Malvig (board member).
Photo: Oceanbox / LinkedIn
Norwegian ocean intelligence firm Oceanbox has announced it has appointed veteran aquaculture industry executive and former Mowi (then Marine Harvest) CEO Atle Eide as Chair of its board.
The Tromso-headquartered firm, which also has offices in Trondheim and Bergen, provides a series of oceanography forecasting and modelling services for the aquaculture industry and other near-shore operators, including operational forecasts for near-shore marine conditions and interactive modelling of sea lice dispersal.
In a LinkedIn news announcement detailing Eide's new role, at a time when the company is "entering a growth phase," according to CEO and co-founder Svenn Hanssen, Oceanbox described Eide is amongst the most experienced figures in Norwegian aquaculture, with a background spanning both listed and privately held firms.
"He is perhaps best known for his role in building today’s MOWI into the world’s leading salmon producer, and later for his work as Senior Partner at HitecVision, Norway’s largest private equity firm," the company said.
Eide himself is quoted as saying he is keen to support the company’s next phase. “Every farmer I speak with praises Oceanbox and the insight that high-resolution coastal modelling can bring to critical decision-making. With increased interest in submerged solutions and a strong need to prevent the spread of lice and disease, understanding site conditions and neighboring interactions is essential for profitability," he stated.
"Oceanbox has the potential to become a key tool for an industry that relies on the ocean, and I’m excited to help develop that potential,” Eide added.
“We have always aimed to bring in an independent Chair of the Board, and Atle adds competence, experience, and professionalism at a time when Oceanbox is entering a growth phase," Hanssen stated.
"His energy and enthusiasm fit perfectly with the rest of the team. At the same time, I'm pleased that continuity is ensured with Lars Lydersen continuing as a board member,” the Oceanbox CEO added.
Oceanbox provides operational forecasts for near shore conditions, including currents, temperature and salinity up to five days in advance, with forecasts generated daily using a finite volume oceanography model. The company also offers interactive tools that simulate the spread of salmon lice, delousing agents, pollutants, plumes and sedimentation.
