Former Mowi CEO set to join Bakkafrost board
Former Mowi CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog looks set to join the board of Faroes salmon producer Bakkafrost.
The notice for Bakkafrost’s annual general meeting, which is due to take place on 30 April, includes his name on the list of directors submitted for election. Apart from Aarskog, all the others are existing board members up for re-election, including Chairman Runi Hansen.
Aarskog left Mowi in November 2019 after 10 years with the salmon giant.
He joined the board of Samherji, Iceland’s largest fishing and seafood business, to assist it with its aquaculture growth plans. In August 2022 he became part of a new business venture headed by NTS founder Helge Gåsø and in November of that year it was announced that he had been appointed in a business development role with innovative Norwegian salmon company Eide Fjordbruk.
He is also chairman of Steinvik Fiskefarm and a board member of Bluefront Equity and Froy Kapital, among others.
If approved, the Bakkafrost board will remain unchanged, with the exception of Aarskog’s addition. The other existing board members are Oystein Sandvik, Gudrid Hojgaard, Teitur Samuelsen, Einar Wathne and Annika Frederiksberg.
The AGM will also consider a change to the company’s articles of association, reflecting new legislation in the Faroes that prevents any company or individual from owning more than 50% of fish farming licences in the islands. The proposed change to the articles reflects this and would delete a clause that says no individual or company may own more than 20% of Bakkafrost’s shares.
Roberts on the move
Meanwhile, Mowi’s long-time Director of Communications (Scotland, Ireland and Canada) Ian Roberts is about to join the ranks of ex-Mowi alumni.
The company said yesterday that Mowi and Roberts reached mutual agreement to end the position effective August 1, 2024.
Ian Roberts has been with Mowi since 1993, with positions held in salmon production and communications spanning his 31-year career.
He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the various career opportunities that the company has entrusted to me.
“From leading the salmon aquaculture partnership with the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation in British Columbia during the first half of my career, to directing communications in Canada and Scotland over the past 15 years and having the opportunity to work with fabulously smart and caring people, it has all been very rewarding for me personally.”
Ben Hadfield, Mowi’s COO Farming (Scotland, Ireland, the Faroes & Canada East), said: “Ian’s leadership and confident presence in communications has been a strong asset for Mowi and for the wider salmon farming sector. His confident, passionate approach alongside strong respect from communities where salmon is produced has led to trust and a greater understanding of our business. I wish Ian all the best in his future endeavours and hope that he will remain closely involved in the aquaculture sector in some capacity.”
Ian Roberts, Mowi
