In a statement sent to the Oslo Stock Exchange today, Salmon Evolution has announced that it is strengthening its executive management team with the appointment of a new CEO and a new CFO. Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen will be the new CEO, a position he has held on an interim basis in recent months and has now been definitively confirmed by the Board of Directors. The company has also announced that Trond Vadset Veibust will take him up in the CFO position he is vacating.
As the release highlights, the new Salmon Evolution CEO has extensive experience from both the seafood industry and the capital market and has over the last two years been an integral part of the company's executive management. He was appointed CFO in October 2020 and, since October 2022, after the resignation of Håkon André Berg due to personal family matters, he was also serving as interim CEO. Before joining Salmon Evolution, Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen served over 4 years as Senior Vice President Finance and Business Development at salmon farmer and processor Hofseth International and, prior to that, 9 years as an investment banker at Swedbank/First Securities.
"The Board of Directors is pleased to have an internal candidate take over the helm at Salmon Evolution", Tore Tønseth, Chairman of the Board of Directors, comments. "Trond Håkon has long experience from and deep understanding of the salmon industry, he knows the company from the inside and out, he is a great representative for Salmon Evolution's unique corporate culture, and he enjoys strong support within the Company and amongst key stakeholders. Furthermore, with the Company now ramping up its activity level both in Norway and abroad, the appointment of Trond Håkon secures continuity during this important phase".
Last December, in an exclusive interview with WeAreAquaculture on the occasion of Salmon Evolution's first harvest, Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen already told us about the company's goal to expand abroad, starting in Norway. He also told us that he was honored to take over the position and to have such a great team in place just at the time of reaching this important milestone in the company's history, which was shortly confirmed by the successful results of its fourth-quarter harvest. Now, as the company's new CEO, he stands by his words.
"I am excited and honoured to take on the position as CEO of Salmon Evolution", he says now. "2022 was a milestone year for the company which we rounded off by successfully harvesting out our first batch with very strong results, all thanks to our excellent group of dedicated employees. More than ever, I am confident that Salmon Evolution has a unique platform to shape and lead the development of land-based salmon farming, both in Norway and abroad".
With Schaug-Pettersen's appointment as CEO, his previous position as CFO was vacated, but the company has announced that Trond Vadset Veibust will take him up in the second quarter of 2023. Salmon Evolution's new Chief Financial Officer comes from Ekornes, a leading furniture manufacturer with global distribution and operations. In his eight years with the company, Veibust has held several executive positions, most recently as Senior Vice President for global operations. Previously, he also worked 4 years at Ernst & Young as an auditor, is a state-certified public accountant, and holds a master's degree from the Norwegian School of Economics.
"I have followed Salmon Evolution from the outside for some time and I very much look forward to contribute in developing the company into a leading player in the global salmon market", comments Trond Vadset Veibust. To which CEO Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen adds: "I am very pleased to have Trond joining our executive management team as CFO. Trond has unique operational and international experience coupled with a strong financial skillset which I am confident that Salmon Evolution will benefit greatly from".
