Ex-Mowi chief joins Smir Group

Alf-Helge Aarskog, a former CEO of global salmon giant Mowi, has joined the board of Smir Group. Smir specialises in sea lice treatment, waterborne feeding and cage systems.

Aarskog has extensive experience in the seafood industry. He was CEO at Lerøy Seafood Group, another major Norwegian salmon producer, before taking charge at  Mowi for around a decade.

Frank Øren, owner and business developer in Smir Group, said: “We are very pleased that Alf-Helge Aarskog wants to contribute to the board of Smir Group.

“His knowledge of the important interaction between technology and biology will be important for our development.

“At the same time, Smir Group is growing, both geographically and as a company, and here we know that Alf-Helge has a lot of experience that will contribute to us being able to do a good job on the board to facilitate our employees.”

The name Smir is a traditional Norwegian word, inspired by what a blacksmith does when he creates new and useful solutions.

The company originally started by developing and offering the renowned Hydrolicer de-lice system.

It has gradually grown to become an aquaculture technology and service group that offers a wide range of systems and services.

Alf-Helge Aarskog has worked in various fields in the aquaculture industry. He currently holds various board positions within the industry and works part-time for NMBU ( the Norwegian University of Life Sciences) .

He said: “I have known Frank Øren since he was operations manager at Fjord Seafood. Frank and the team have developed Smir Group in an exciting direction, at the same time that Smir Group is moving into areas that are very interesting for the future development of the aquaculture industry.

“Here I hope that I can help contribute, and at the same time learn more about farming.”