Baldvin Thorsteinsson takes over as CEO of Samherji
Baldvin Thorsteinsson today assumed the role of CEO of Samherji hf., succeeding his father, Thorsteinn Már Baldvinsson, who has stepped down after 42 years as CEO, having led the company since its founding in 1983.
Grateful for the confidence
Earlier this month, the Board of Directors of Samherji announced the appointment of Baldvin Thorsteinsson, one of the company's largest shareholders, as the new CEO. Baldvin says he is grateful for the confidence shown in him with the appointment.
"Like many people from Akureyri, I started working for Samherji at a young age and have held various positions at the company over the years. I have therefore gradually become well acquainted with the company, its infrastructure and its employees, and now for the last two years as Chairman of the Board of Directors. 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. Samherji has outstanding employees, which is, of course, the most important factor," says Baldvin.
In conjunction with his new role, Baldvin has stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Samherji hf. Jón Sigurdsson, former CEO of Össur hf. (now Embla Medical), has been elected to the Board and will serve as the new Chairman. Sigurdsson previously served on Samherji’s Board from 2002 to 2006.
A leader in the seafood industry
Baldvin takes the helm of a company with a solid operational foundation and aims to build on its recent successes.
"Samherji is a global leader in the seafood industry and has been well managed from the beginning. Since its establishment, the company has prioritised reinvesting profits into operations through the renewal of vessels, construction of new processing plants and implementation of new technological solutions, many of which have gained international recognition. Through Samherji Fish Farming, the company has successfully raised Arctic char and salmon on land for two decades. We intend to expand our role in this rapidly growing sector by constructing a large land-based salmon farm in Reykjanes and completing renovations and expansions of the facility in Öxarfjördur, which is now nearing completion. I can confidently say that Samherji is a pioneer in the international seafood industry."
The employees are the heart of the operations
Baldvin emphasises that the company’s continued success will rely on its team of skilled professionals.
“The employees are the heart of our operations, and the company’s success is primarily built on their expertise, dedication, and ambition. I look forward to working alongside a strong team of capable individuals across all roles. Many exciting challenges lie ahead. We are competing in international markets, and the Icelandic fisheries industry has every potential to remain a global leader, provided the Icelandic government ensures a stable and predictable operating environment for the industry,” says Baldvin.
A diverse background in business
Baldvin Thorsteinsson holds a BSc degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iceland and joined Samherji after graduating in 2007. Prior to that, he had worked in various roles within the company and its subsidiaries from a young age.
Baldvin served as CEO of Icelandic Drilling (Jardboranir hf.) from 2013 to 2016, then returned to Samherji as Managing Director of Business Development from 2016 to 2019. He then moved to the Netherlands, where he led the establishment of Alda Seafood. He served as the company's Managing Director until 2022, when he moved with his family to Norway to manage Alda Seafood’s office in Oslo.
Baldvin has served on the boards of numerous companies both in Iceland and abroad. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eimskip hf. from 2019 to 2022, having joined the board in 2018. He also served on the board of Olíuverzlun Íslands (Olís) from 2011 to 2018, including one year as Chairman. Currently, he is a board member of Samherji Fish Farming (Samherji fiskeldi ehf.), Nergård AS in Norway, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Alda Seafood Holding BV in the Netherlands.
Born and raised in Akureyri, Baldvin attended Akureyri Junior College before moving to Reykjavík to study at the University of Iceland.
He is married to Thóra Kristín Pálsdóttir, and they have three daughters.
