Høstlund named as CEO of Nordic Aquafarms

Charles Høstlund, the former head of Norway Royal Salmon (NRS), has been appointed as CEO of Nordic Aquafarms, the land-based fish farmer.

He had been chairman of Nordic Aquafarms and his elevation follows the departure of the previous CEO, Bernt Olav Røttingsnes, who had earlier indicated he wanted to step down after six years in the post.

Høstlund is a highly experienced fish farm executive, who helped to build NRS into a leading salmon company which at one time had exciting offshore ambitions.

It was later to become part of the integrated seafood group NTS, which was then bought by SalMar.

Nordic Aquafarms said yesterday that Høstlund will add valuable expertise to the company in the phase the company is now entering, with the aim of becoming the leading player in yellowtail kingfish farming.

Nordic Aquafarms board member Haakon Aschehoug said: “We are very pleased that Charles Høstlund is taking over as CEO.

“After several years of developing our land-based facilities in Norway and Denmark, we are now in a phase where the focus will be on successfully farming yellowtail kingfish, and we are sure that Charles is the right person to lead the group in this phase.”

He also thanked the outgoing CEO Bernt Røttingsnes, who will continue to carry out work for the company, for his time as CEO.

Charles Høstlund says he is looking forward to taking on the task ahead.

He added: “I know the group and the employees well after several years on the board.

“The company has three well-functioning land-based facilities for breeding yellowtail kingfish and controls the entire value chain from broodstock to sale, which makes us well equipped to develop the group to become the leading player in the production and sale of yellowtail kingfish.”

Nordic Aquafarms has an impressive yellowtail kingfish portfolio with a hatchery with its own broodstock in Bedsted-Thy, Denmark, and growth facilities in Hanstholm, Denmark and in Fredrikstad.

The group is also working to launch a facility for the production of yellowtail kingfish in Eureka, California.