Kristin Hurum (center), with Cermaq Group CEO Steven Rafferty (left) and the still Managing Director of Cermaq Norway, Knut Ellekjær (right).
Photo: Cermaq.
Cermaq - wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation - announced that, after 8 years as head of Cermaq Norway's operations, Knut Ellekjær has decided to leave the company. His last day will be May 31, when he will be replaced by Kristin Hurum, currently Director of HR, Quality and Sustainability at the Norwegian salmon company.
"It has been fantastic years in a strong, committed and competent organization, with major investments, and doubling of volume and turnover with a clearer responsible profile," Knut Ellekjær said, commenting on his departure from the company.
"We have designed and are now launching a new strategy for the coming years, and it is natural that this will be continued with a new leader, while at the same time it gives me an opportunity to look at completely different opportunities in the last part of my working life," he added.
"The fact that Kristin Hurum – one of our own ranks – has been chosen to take over the role is something I am very proud of," the outgoing head of Cermaq Norway's operations concluded. "I am very happy and honoured to get the opportunity to lead Cermaq Norway," said, for her part, who will be his successor.
"The reason I have accepted is that we have a very strong team with incredibly talented people. People are important – they are the ones who create the results," Kristin Hurum continued. "We have set ourselves exciting goals, and a strategy with full emphasis on fish welfare and people, and I am looking forward to getting started on this work."
The next head of Cermaq Norway has a degree in business organisation and a background in banking and the consulting industry before she started at the company. As mentioned, currently, Kristin Hurum is the Director of HR, Quality and Sustainability, and has worked at Cermaq for 14 years, first as Sustainability Manager at Cermaq Group, then moving to Cermaq Norway and assuming her current position in 2014.
Like Knut Ellekjær, Cermaq Group CEO Steven Rafferty was also pleased to have found the right candidate internally to succeed him.
"Knut Ellekjær has done a brilliant job at Cermaq Norway, and leaves behind a company that is very well equipped for further growth and development. I have great faith that Kristin Hurum, with her expertise and solid background, alongside a strong management team, will take Cermaq Norway forward in a very good way," Rafferty said.
