The appointment follows a process with several strong candidates in the picture, and with assistance from external consultants. It soon became clear that Harald was the best choice, as Chair Laurence Odfjell remarked in a stock market release:
"We are pleased to have an internal candidate to take over the helm at Odfjell. Harald has excelled at leading a number of innovative and transformative projects during his time at Odfjell. He has the expertise and experience to ensure continuity and progress, and to further strengthen Odfjell’s industry leadership."
He added: "Harald has broad knowledge of Odfjell’s business and operations, as well as the industry in general. We are dealing with a number of challenges these days, from Covid-19 and geopolitical unrest to market fluctuations and climate change. We are confident that Harald is the best candidate to take the wheel and safely guide the company through it all."
"I am excited and honored to take on the position as CEO of Odfjell. Since 2015, I have had the privilege to take part in growing and transforming Odfjell into the world’s largest deep-sea operator with the most energy efficient chemical tanker fleet in the world.
The Odfjell platform and the fundamentals of our industry are the strongest we have seen for many years, and I look forward to harvesting from the solid preparations made by the Odfjell team over several years. We have an impressive global team and are on a solid path of progress. My core task will be to ensure that we continue to provide world-class services in shipping and at our terminals – safely, sustainably, and more efficiently than anyone else in the industry."
Harald Fotland, CEO, Odfjell SE
With the appointment, Kristian Mørch has officially stepped down as CEO May 6; yet, he will remain available in the coming weeks and months to ensure a solid handover.
“On behalf of myself and the board, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Kristian for his many contributions to Odfjell during his seven-year tenure. The company has been through a significant transformation, and is today standing on a solid and efficient foundation. We have solved the challenges of the past and are preparing for the future.”
Laurence Odfjell, Chair
“We appreciate that Kristian, once he had decided to step down, gave us the opportunity to take the time needed to find his successor – and that he is available to give Harald a proper handover for his new role. We wish Kristian all the best on his journey outside of Odfjell”.
If you have questions or receive inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Harald Fotland, Kristian Mørch or Ingjerd Nettestad, VP Corporate HR. Inquiries from investors/analysts can be forwarded to Bjørn Kristian Røed, VP Corporate Analysis & IR, while questions from the media may be forwarded to Anngun Dybsland, VP Communications.
