Cermaq chief executive to step down next year

“Geir has done a great job in developing aquaculture in Norway and internationally,” said Cermaq Group chairman Yasuhiro Kawakami.

“For the past 15 years at Cermaq he has consolidated Cermaq’s position as a premium salmon supplier in Chile, Canada and Norway. We are very pleased with the job he has done and wish to thank him for the development of Cermaq and the solid results during his period.”

Molvik will continue leading the company until Rafferty takes over as chief executive from March next year.

Different priorities

“I have been privileged to work with aquaculture in all parts of the world since the 1980s and have been involved in a lot of exciting activities,” said Molvik in a press release. “Now a chapter has come to an end, and I want to prioritise my time differently going forward. Hence, I asked the board to find a replacement earlier this year.”

Kawamaki said he was delighted Rafferty was filling the vacancy left by Molvik. “With global, commercial and operational experience from the entire value chain within fish farming, he will be well suited to take over the management responsibility of Cermaq,” said the chairman.

Cermaq said Molvik had not only overseen improvements in operations in all parts of the value chain but had also positioned the company to be a driving force in international cooperation on climate action and environmental performance in aquaculture.

Molvik, who started his aquaculture career as a scientific assistant at the University of Tromsø in Norway in 1982, will be available for Cermaq after his departure next year.

Revitalised Chilean operation

His successor, Rafferty, had revitalised Cermaq Chile after joining in 2019, said Cermaq.

Prior to joining Cermaq, Rafferty had various executive positions in different international aquaculture companies during the last 20 years, as well as chief financial officer and chief operating officer in Cermaq Group earlier. He spent 11 years with Marine Harvest (now Mowi) before joining Cermaq for his first spell with the company in 2008, and also worked for salmon processor Morpol and feed producer Skretting. 

He will continue in his current role as managing director in Cermaq Chile until his transfer to Norway. A replacement in Chile will be announced in due course.

Cermaq is one of the world’s top five salmon farmers and is owned by the giant Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan.