Former INVE Aquaculture Chief Executive Patrick Waty has been named the new CEO of Benchmark Holdings.
Photo: Benchmark Holdings
Benchmark Holdings has announced a series of upcoming changes to its board and executive leadership, which the company says will take effect following its proposed de-listing from the public markets during August.
Patrick Waty is set to take over as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Trond Williksen, who will step down after five years in the role.
Since 2021, Waty has held the role of CEO at INVE Aquaculture, a subsidiary of Benchmark specialising in advanced nutrition and hatchery solutions, and is also Head of Advanced Nutrition within Benchmark's leadership team. He was previously Group CEO of SyAqua, and began his career in the seafood industry in 2005 by acquiring Belgian fish processor Seagull NV.
The announced changes will also see another INVE Aquaculture executive take on a top role, with INVE's current CFO Pierre Hugo named as Benchmark Holding's new Chief Financial Officer, replacing Septima Maguire, who left the post on 30 June 2025.
In addition to these executive appointments, Benchmark also intends to restructure its board. Former Skretting CEO Therese Log Bergjord is to join as a Non-Executive Director, taking over from Marie Danielsson, CFO of Norwegian packaging company BEWI, who will resign upon the appointment.
Bergjord already serves on the boards of Gustav Witzøe-owned Norwegian aquaculture investment firm Kverva and land-based salmon farming company Nordic Aqua Partners, and was also recently appointed as "strategic advisor" for AI-powered solutions provider Aquaticode.
Other new additions announced by Benchmark are Frode Sandmark as the new board representative of Kverva, Frida Lillebø, representing Norwegian family-owned investment company FERD AS, and Michael Zhang for London-based investment manager JNE Partners LLP.
In March 2025, Benchmark Holdings sold its genetics business, Benchmark Genetics, to life science investment firm Novo Holdings, for a total of GBP 260 million (EUR 311.2m / USD 336m).
