Thomas Samdal appointed CFO of Benchmark Genetics. Benchmark Genetics has appointed Thomas Samdal as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He assumed the role on 1 April and is a member of the company’s executive management team. Samdal takes over the role from Jon Crowther, who will retire following a short transition period.
Samdal joins from the position as CFO at the research institute NORCE, where he held overall responsibility for the group’s finance function, including reporting, financing, sustainability reporting, and several other corporate functions. He has previously held CFO roles in multiple companies and has experience from investment activities and auditing.
Samdal holds a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), as well as a Master in Accounting and Auditing. With close to 20 years of experience in auditing, corporate finance, and financial leadership, he brings a strong combination of financial expertise and operational insight. He also has extensive experience from private equity (PE), both as an Investment Manager and as CFO in PE-backed companies.
“We are very pleased to welcome Thomas to the team. He brings a strong professional profile and broad experience from both commercial companies and research environments. This combination fits very well with Benchmark Genetics as we continue to build on our position as a global leader in aquaculture genetics. His ability to connect strategy with operational execution will be important for the company’s continued development”, says CEO Kristian Botnen.
Samdal looks forward to contributing to the company’s continued development as an independent company under Novo Holdings.
“Benchmark Genetics plays a key role in the global aquaculture value chain, where genetics is the starting point for both sustainability and profitability. I am motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a more efficient and sustainable food system. At the same time, it is very exciting to join the company at this stage, where we will continue to develop and scale the business. An important part of my role will be to ensure that the finance function actively supports the core business and enables the organisation to achieve its strategic goals”, says Samdal.
Over the past year, Benchmark Genetics has established itself as an independent company under the ownership of Novo Holdings and has a clear strategy for further growth within genetics and genetic and genotyping services globally.
Image: Benchmark Genetics