Benchmark Genetics appointed Kristian Botnen as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) starting November 3, 2025. Botnen brings extensive leadership experience from the aquaculture industry, coupled with a strong background in finance and operational management. He will lead Benchmark Genetics into its next phase of growth and innovation as the company continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in aquaculture genetics.

Botnen joins from AKVA Group, a global leader in aquaculture technology solutions, where he has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2022. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Lingalaks, a major Norwegian fish farming company. He started his career building a solid foundation in finance and banking before moving into operational and general management roles in aquaculture.

Throughout his career, Botnen has consistently delivered operational excellence, exceeded financial and sustainability goals, while building high-performing teams. He holds a Master of Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration, both from BI Norwegian Business School in Norway.

Botnen commented: “I am honored to join Benchmark Genetics at such an exciting time for the company and the industry. Benchmark Genetics has an exceptional team, cutting-edge science, and a strong global footprint. I look forward to building on this foundation to deliver even greater value to our customers, enhance sustainability across aquaculture, and strengthen our role as a trusted partner to the industry.”

In addition, Aleks Engel, Partner at Novo Holdings, said: “The board of directors and Novo Holdings are thrilled to welcome Kristian as the CEO of Benchmark Genetics. He combines commercial, operational, and financial acumen with deep industry knowledge. We are confident that Kristian, together with the rest of the management team, will lead Benchmark Genetics into a new and exciting era capitalizing on new genomic breeding technologies, and enabling our customers to feed the world more efficiently and sustainably. We look forward to seeing the long-term partnerships with Benchmark Genetics’ global customer base growing even deeper over the coming years.”