Norwegian seafood analysis and insights provider Kontali has appointed a new CEO, Kjetil Angell Kjerstad.
Currently Head of Business Development and Strategy B2C at telecommunications firm Telia Norway, Kjerstad was formerly Head of Google Ads in Norway, and previously held executive positions at Microsoft Norway and Telenor.
Announcing the appointment, Kontali said it had "undergone a digital transformation since Alytic bought the majority share in 2020" and that it is now entering a scale-up phase, with Kjerstad brought in to maximise this growth.
“The potential of Kontali is tremendous. By adding more technological and commercial competence to the world-leading seafood expertise already present in the company, the goal is to triple Kontali revenues within three years,” said Espen Zachariassen, Chairman of the Board of Kontali and CEO of Alytic in a press release.
“Kjerstad knows how to commercialize technology in combination with content. He will be responsible for implementing a strategy to turn Kontali into the leading provider of data and insights for the global seafood market,” Zachariassen added.
“Being passionate about driving growth, I find this to be a unique opportunity. Kontali, with its team and support from Alytic, is perfectly positioned for growth," Kjerstad said in a preee statement.
"I thrive on the dynamic nature of scaling a business, and I am particularly drawn to the challenges and opportunities presented by a potentially fast-growing company like Kontali."
Kjerstad said his philosophy is that "success starts with people", and added that he was eager to get started with the Kontali team, as well as meeting with customers from the seafood industry.
“Together we will continue to drive the seafood industry forward – based on data, insight, and analysis,” he said.
With a master’s degree in business administration from Oxford Brookes University, Kjerstad's training also includes International Marketing at BI Norwegian Business School and Business Administration at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
A native of Ålesund, Norway, Kjerstad now resides in Oslo, and will assume his new position on April 1, 2024.