After 15 years at the helm, Geir Johan Bakke has left his post as chief executive of Norwegian shipbuilder and designer Havyard Group. The move was agreed by Mr Bakke and the board of directors
Gunnar Larsen has been selected by the board as interim chief executive and will immediately begin recruiting a permanent chief executive. With some 12 years’ experience at the company, Mr Larsen was general manager of the Havyard production and service business area and is senior vice president of market and business development.
Joining the Havyard Group in 2001 and becoming chief executive in 2004, Mr Bakke has been central to developing the Havyard Group, overseeing its transition from being a standalone shipyard to an integrated company with design, shipyards and equipment production. The group has almost 600 permanent employees and an orderbook of over Nkr4,300M (US$468M).
In a press statement, Havyard Group chairman Vegard Sævik said, “Geir Johan has been incredibly important to the development Havyard Group has been through. He has shown an impressive commitment to developing the group, which is of great importance to the communities in which Havyard operates.”
Mr Bakke said, “It has been an amazing journey that I am both grateful and proud to have been a part of. I wish the company good luck for the future.” The retiring chief executive has stated his willingness to be available to the company if needed.
The parties have agreed not to comment further on the matter.
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