The Norwegian Shipowners Association has selected Odfjell’s chief executive Harald Fotland to be its new president.
The association elected Fotland at its general meeting on Thursday and he will serve until 2026 after having been vice president for the past two years.
Fotland succeeds Knutsen OAS Shipping deputy managing director Synnove Seglem, who was president from 2022 to 2024.
He said: “The most important drivers for change in the coming years are the industry’s ambitious climate goals and the need to develop technology and solutions that contribute to achieving these goals.
“Our members represent one of the world’s most energy-efficient fleets and will lead the way in the green shift. I’m looking forward to taking on the task as president of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association in what is an exciting, but also security-politically challenging time for global shipping.”
The conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s war against Ukraine have major ripple effects on shipping, the association said.
“Norway has the world’s fifth-largest fleet measured by value, and we are a small and open economy. Therefore, open trade routes and a rules-based world order are a crucial national security interest for Norway as well,” Fotland added.
Fotland has been CEO of chemical tanker company Odfjell since May 2022, after joining the Oslo-listed company in 2010 as chief of staff.
He came to Odfjell from the position of vice president of Gard, and has previously also held various positions in the Swedish Navy.
Fotland is a board member of the European Community Shipowners’ Association and Den Norske Krigsforsikringen for Skib.
Hoegh Autoliners chief executive Andreas Enger was elected vice president.
