Baldvin Thorsteinsson named Samherji CEO

He takes over from his farther, Thorsteinn Már Baldvinsson, who has led the company since its founding in 1983.

“Like many people from Akureyri, I started working for Samherji at a young age,” said Baldvin Thorsteinsson.

“The close collaboration between my father and me has been important and rewarding. I hope that this experience, along with my roles in other companies, will provide a strong foundation for me as CEO.”

As Baldvin assumes the new role, he steps down as chair of Samherji’s board. Jón Sigurdsson, former chief executive of Össur (now Embla Medical), has been elected to replace him, returning to the board after previously serving from 2002 to 2006.

Under Thorsteinn Már’s leadership, Samherji grew into a global seafood powerhouse. Baldvin aims to build on that legacy. “Samherji has been well managed from the beginning,” he said. “Through investment in innovation and sustainable fish farming, including land-based salmon operations, we’re positioned to lead into the future.”

He stressed the importance of the team behind the company’s success. “The employees are the heart of our operations. Their expertise and ambition have brought Samherji to where it is today.”

With a strong background in industrial engineering and executive roles across Iceland and Europe, Baldvin brings both deep familiarity with Samherji and fresh international perspective.