Svein Aaser, who has been Chairman of the Board of Marine Harvest since the inception of the Company in 2006, has told the Board of Directors that he wishes to step down from his position, effective from the beginning of this week.

Svein Aaser is stepping down as Chairman of the Board of Marine Harvest

The Vice-Chairman of the Board, Ole Eirik Lerøy, will act as Chairman of the Board and Leif Frode Onarheim will act as Vice-Chairman of the Board up until the next Annual General Meeting.

“Marine Harvest has just concluded a very good year, resulting in a dividend to the shareholders. The Company has a very strong management and exciting prospects. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to participate in developing the company to its present position,” Svein Aaser comments.

“My other board positions, among them as Chairman for The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011, are now taking up so much of my time that I find it incompatible with my position as Chairman of the Board of Marine Harvest. The Board of Marine Harvest has a Vice-Chairman, Ole Eirik Lerøy, who has solid experience from the seafood industry. Lerøy has also invested considerable private funds in the company and knows Marine Harvest well. Thus I can hand over the leadership of the Board of Directors to Ole Eirik Lerøy”, Mr Aaser says.

On behalf of Marine Harvest's main shareholder Geveran Trading, John Fredriksen would like to thank Svein Aaser for his considerable efforts since taking up the position as Chairman of the Board for the three merged companies Fjord Seafood, PanFish and Marine Harvest in 2006. Under Mr Aaser's leadership the company has made a quantum leap both financially and organisationally.