BENCHMARK GENETICS CEO TO STEP DOWN – INTERIM LEADERSHIP APPOINTED

Benchmark Genetics CEO to step down – Interim leadership appointed. Benchmark Genetics (‘Benchmark Genetics’ or ‘the Company’) announces that Geir Olav Melingen has decided to resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer. He will remain in the Company for a transition period to support a smooth handover to the next CEO.

Geir Olav has been with the Benchmark Group for six years, playing a key role in the growth of its aquaculture genetics business. He served as Head of the Genetics business area in Benchmark Holdings before being appointed CEO of Benchmark Genetics on April 1st, 2025, following the company’s transition to independent ownership under Novo Holdings.

Novo Holdings has initiated the search process for a new CEO. In the interim, Aleks Engel, Partner at Novo Holdings, will assume the role of interim CEO, supported by a dedicated team from Novo Holdings.

“It has been a privilege to lead Benchmark Genetics through an exciting phase of growth and transition. I believe strongly in the company’s future and the potential of its partnership with Novo Holdings,” said Geir Olav Melingen. “This decision reflects a personal career step, and I remain fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition in the period ahead.”

Under Melingen’s leadership, Benchmark Genetics has reinforced its position as a global leader in aquaculture genetics, providing high-quality genetic solutions to salmon, shrimp, and genetic programs worldwide.

“Geir Olav has played a central role in building Benchmark Genetics into a strong and focused organisation with a clear strategic direction,” said Aleks Engel, interim CEO. “On behalf of Novo Holdings and the Board, I want to thank him for his leadership and dedication, and we look forward to working closely with the team during this transition.”

Benchmark Genetics continues its mission to deliver world-leading genetic solutions that support sustainable growth in global aquaculture. Novo Holdings will be supporting company’s next strategic phase in advancing aquaculture genetics globally.

About Benchmark Genetics

Benchmark Genetics is a world-leading provider of genetics solutions for aquaculture. With operations in salmon and shrimp, the Company focuses on breeding programmes that enhance genetic performance, sustainability, supply security, and biosecurity.  Benchmark Genetics operates in major aquaculture markets across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, serving customers in over 50 countries. The company also offers genetic services and genotyping services for a wide range of aquaculture species globally. Read more at: www.bmkgenetics.com

About Novo Holdings A/S

Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seed, Venture, Growth, Planetary Health Investments and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development.

As of year-end 2024, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 142 billion.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.