Our People

Ambitious and experienced aquaculture people from across the world, working together to achieve a common goal

Proximar Seafood

Is currently building the first fish farm for Atlantic salmon in Japan, at the foot of Mount Fuji, Oyama. The land-based facility, which will be completed in 2023, is expected to be serving fresh salmon to Japanese consumers from mid 2024.

Learn more about our fish farm

Sustainability

The land based production ensures high quality production and stable harvest volumes all-year round, with minimal use of water, electricity and additives. Proximity to the market enables us to deliver unparallelled freshness, without the need for air freight. Our production takes place in a fully closed environment with minimal environmental footprint, both locally and globally, securing a sustainable and safe product.

Learn more about our fish sustainability

Top-tier operational team

To ensure experience and expertise related to land-based farming of Atlantic salmon, we have recruited leading operational experts from Scandinavia and South America, working on-site in Oyama.

Together with ambitious and dedicated local people, who now make up the majority of the operations team, they work hard to achieve our goal of becoming a leading supplier of sustainably produced seafood.

Interested in joining proximar?
Click here for more information

Management Team

Joachim Nielsen

CEO
+47 928 55 559 / +81 70 2811 9898
jn@proximar.com
Co-founder of Proximar, has worked full time with the company since 2015. Previously served as CFO in railroad contractor Team Bane. Extensive financial background from investment banking, private equity and fund management

Ole Christian Willumsen

CFO
+47 482 13 429
ocw@proximar.com
Experienced leader, strategist and business developer. Has held multiple positions in Equinor/Statoil, including Country Manager Japan, Oil Platform Manager and Investment Manager in Technology Ventures. Joined Proximar in 2023.

Lars Stigaard

CTO
+45 408 60 342 / +81 80 7364 8599
ls@proximar.com
Third generation fish farmer from Denmark. Extensive experience from RAS, including design, construction and operation of RAS systems. Previously worked at the RAS division of AKVA Group ASA. Joined Proximar in 2017.

Dharma Rajeswaran

COO
+47 916 44 126 / +81 80 1606 1183
dr@proximar.com
More than 30 years of experience from farming with Atlantic salmon. Has worked with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for ten years, most recently as COO with Atlantic Sapphire in the US. Joined Proximar in 2022.

Keisuke Nakayama

Director Business Development
+81 901 54 25 386
kn@proximar.com
Joined Proximar in 2021, but has been involved as Special advisor for Proximar in Japan through Innovation Norway Tokyo since 2015. 25 years working as advisor from Norwegian Trade Council and Innovation Norway Tokyo, including projects within the seafood industry.

Vivian Lunde

Director ESG & Business Operations
+47 952 61 207
vl@proximar.com
Extensive experience from PwC as auditor, CFO and consultant in various industries. Solid competence as strategic sparring partner and project manager within innovation work, HR and recruitment. Joined Proximar in 2021.

Yasumitsu Himeno

Corporate Development Director
+81 90 4854 6726
yh@proximar.com
Deep knowledge of the financial market in Japan, having worked for more than 16 years in the Tokyo offices of Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and the World Bank Group. B.S Degree in Physics from Hiroshima University. Joined Proximar in 2024.

Marius Birkenes

Director Strategy
+47 952 61 273
mb@proximar.com
Experienced management consultant and strategist, mainly within industrial and financial sectors. Previously employment in Arkwright, PwC and Sbanken. Master in Science. Joined Proximar in 2021.

Board of Directors

Kjell-Erik Østdahl

Chair of the board
21 years experience from Schlumberger across multiple countries in Europa, Asia and US. Currently invests in technology startups and real estate, while being senior advisor to Ferd and Sumitomo Corporation. Chair of the board at Sekal AS, Interwell AS, and Servi AS, board member at Windspider AS, Keystone AS, and Cegal AS. Holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from NTNU.

Per Grieg jr.

Board member
Founder of Grieg Seafood ASA in 1992 and actively involved in leading positions in the company since then, currently as chairman. Experience from establishment of companies in several sectors and from board positions in i.a. Fjord Seafood ASA, Marine Farms ASA, Erfjord Stamfisk AS and AON Grieg in addition to several companies in the Grieg Group.

Siri Vike

Board member
26 years experience with fish farming and fish health, through companies such as EWOS, Mainstream Chile, Cermaq, PHARMAQ Analytiq and Zoetis. Currently Director of Fish Health and Welfare at Ovum AS. Holds a master in fish health from University of Tromsø and a PhD from Chilean fish farming.

Elisabeth Adina Dyvik

Board member
Extensive experience from the financial sector, including senior manager positions at Oslo Børs, Carnegie Kapitalforvaltning, Orkla and Norsk Hydro. Previous member of the Norwegian Corporate Governance Board (NUES) and CICERO Climate Finance Advisory Board. Holds an MSc in International Accounting and Finance from LSE and an MSc in Economics and Business Administration from NHH.

Viggo Halseth

BOARD MEMBER
38 years of experience from the aquaculture feed industry through management positions in Nutreco/Skretting, including Chief Innovation Officer at Nutreco and CEO of Skretting Norway and Skretting Group. Experience from RAS investments. Board member of Blár AS, Norwegian Lobster Farm AS, Blue Planet AS and Harbor AS.