The two new hires, Viktorija Dorfan and Mette Remø, pose to the left and right, respectively, of their new boss, Benchmark Genetics CFO Jon Crowther.
Photo: Benchmark Genetics.
Aquaculture genetics company Benchmark Genetics announced last week that it was strengthening its team with two key appointments. On August 4, Viktorija Dorfan and Mette Remø, two senior professionals in financial and legal, respectively, had their first working day at the company's headquarters in Bergen, Norway.
Appointed Group Reporting Manager in Benchmark Genetics' Finance Department, Viktorija Dorfan holds an MSc in Accountancy and Financial Reporting from San Diego State University and brings more than a decade of international experience in assurance and financial reporting.
Dorfan began her career at KPMG in San Diego and Silicon Valley, where she advised leading international corporations on complex reporting matters. In recent years, she has worked in the oil and gas industry, with full responsibility for end-to-end internal and external reporting. Now, at Benchmark Genetics, she will help translate financial and operational data into clear, consistent, decision-ready reports that increase transparency and confidence in the company.
Mette Remø, for her part, joins Benchmark Genetics as Senior Legal Counsel/Attorney-at-Law. She holds a law degree from the University of Bergen and comes from the position of Director/Attorney-at-Law at KPMG Law, where she has provided legal advice to the aquaculture industry in the areas of aquaculture, corporate, and tax law. In addition, Remø brings extensive experience from public administration, including senior positions at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.
At the Directorate of Fisheries, she led the section for aquaculture control and development, while at the Food Safety Authority, she worked on a wide range of legal issues related to food safety, exports, fish feed, and fish health and welfare. Remø has therefore very long-standing legal and regulatory expertise related to the allocation of aquaculture licenses, as well as drafting aquaculture legislation and regulations, sector monitoring, and control.
As mentioned above, both Viktorija Dorfan and Mette Remø report to the company's CFO, Jon Crowther. Formerly Finance Director, Crowther is a veteran at the Norwegian company who was promoted to Chief Financial Officer last May. Benchmark Genetics then described the move as "marking a new chapter in the company's financial leadership as it begins life as an independent company under Novo Holdings".
"We are very pleased to welcome Mette and Viktorija to the team," he said, commenting on the appointments. "They bring valuable expertise and experience that will strengthen our ability to deliver on our strategic goals and our vision to be a leader in genetics and breeding for sustainable aquaculture."
An independent company within Novo Holdings' investment portfolio since March 31, Benchmark Genetics appointed Geir Olav Melingen as new CEO the day after the acquisition. However, less than two months after the appointment, he decided to resign from his position. Thus, the genetics company, which a few days earlier had also appointed a new Chief Scientific Officer, ended May with Aleks Engel, a partner at Novo Holdings, assuming the role of interim CEO.
A few days later, as it entered its second month under Novo Holdings, Benchmark Genetics issued a statement saying that a new chapter had opened and that the new ownership structure had brought a renewed focus to its strategic priorities.
"We are intensifying efforts in our core breeding programs, evaluating the potential for expanding into new markets, and strengthening collaborations across the entire value chain," the company's statement read.
