Akvaplan-niva CEO Merete Nygaard Kristiansen is stepping down following an agreement with the board, the Norwegian research and advisory company said on Tuesday.
Deputy CEO Anton Giæver will assume day-to-day management while the company begins the process of recruiting a permanent replacement.
Akvaplan-niva, which is owned by Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), specialises in environmental research, aquaculture, marine ecosystems and Arctic advisory services, with a strong presence in northern Norway.
Chairman Pål Molander said NIVA’s board wants closer cooperation between the parent company and Akvaplan-niva going forward in order to realise operational synergies and economies of scale.
“The background is a shared desire to facilitate the next phase of the company’s development, and the parties agree that the timing is good,” the company said in a statement.
Kristiansen has led the company since 2020, a period she said had been marked by professionalisation and growth.
During her tenure, Akvaplan-niva developed and commissioned its new FISK research station at Kraknes, a facility focused on fisheries and aquaculture research in Arctic conditions.
“It has been a privilege to lead the company,” Kristiansen said in the statement.
Molander thanked Kristiansen for her contribution to the company’s development over several years.
Akvaplan-niva is one of Norway’s best-known applied marine research companies and works extensively with the aquaculture industry on fish welfare, environmental monitoring, carrying capacity and Arctic marine operations.