Norway: Bergen Group Fosen Appoints New CEO

Anders Straumsheim will take up position as the new CEO of Bergen Group Fosen this week.

Current CEO Arnar Utseth continues at the shipyard with new assignments.

Anders Straumsheim (44) has extensive management experience from Norwegian and international industries.

He has for the 12 last year’s been the CEO of the international Flextronics Group’s operations in Norway.

As CEO of Bergen Group Fosen, Mr. Straumsheim will also join the management team of Bergen Group’s Shipbuilding division. Straumsheim has a major in economics and finance from the Norwegian Business School (BI). He currently lives at Snarøya with his family, and will initially commute weekly between Oslo and Fosen.

Strengthening the company management and the divisional management Terje Arnesen is satisfied with the solution that is now in place.

“In recent weeks we have had a strong focus on identifying and implementing the necessary actions in order to regain the profitability at Bergen Group Fosen. An important step in this process has been to strengthen the management at the shipyard. Now we have put in place a very accomplished economist with solid industrial management experience. Straumsheim will have an important role in the dedicated process of ensuring a continued positive improvement at the yard,” says Arnesen. He is also satisfied with the fact that the current CEO Arnar

Utseth has agreed to continue in another function at Bergen Group Fosen.

Last month, Terje Sjumarken was appointed Executive Vice President for Bergen Group Shipbuilding. Mr. Sjumarken, who is also the CEO of Bergen Group BMV, states that the divisional management will be further strengthened:

“We are also now establishing the position of CFO for Bergen Group Shipbuilding to strengthen the financial management, project financing and the strategic cooperation at the division level,” says Sjumarken. The division’s two

newbuilding yards have so far this year had a strong growth in the order books, and the market outlook is perceived as positive.

Busy years with high activity

Bergen Group will complete in total three large ships projects until next summer. The first of these, an offshore construction vessel, will be completed and delivered to the customer Volstad Maritime AS this autumn. In springtime

2013 the first cruise ferry to Fjord Line will be delivered. The hull of the second cruise ferry is under construction in Poland, and will arrive at Fosen for outfitting and completion in late fall this year. This cruise ferry will be delivered to the client in the summer of 2013.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, September 12, 2012; Image: bergen-group