Av Ben Øksnes – Interim CEO ScaleAQ Chile / Managing Director ScaleAQ CAS

2025 has been a year of significant change and strategic shifts for ScaleAQ Chile. Following the summer of 2024, our Group CEO launched the “Chile Next” strategic project, with both me and Morten Nordstad taking on dedicated roles and forming the Board of Directors on behalf of the Group. Our mission was to identify challenges and opportunities, bolster relationships across divisions in Chile, and establish a robust foundation for future growth. This period has been both challenging and motivating, and it’s rewarding now witnessing the results of our Chilean colleagues’ hard work.

One of the things I’m most proud of so far, is the changed focus on Safety, and the team’s renewed commitment to continuous work with safety. 

With measures implemented since September, we have reduced the accident rate. Although it’s still early to conclude, we are now reaching 60 days without any injuries in the factories, which so far is a big milestone for us. We still have a long way to go, but with the continued focus, we will improve further.

Our people are our most important asset, and we need everybody to go home to their loved ones every day in the same shape as they left in the morning.

Sales

In November we landed a significant project with AquaChile. The company, wich is the largest in Chile, will be upgrading a total of 68 barges in 2026 and 2027. This was a product of extensive work from the sales team and all the supporting functions in Norway and Chile. AquaChile was clear that it’s because of high quality products and a robust and strong company with expertise that was decisive for their decision to choose ScaleAQ at the end.

We also had a positive development at the end of the year with Maskon products and already have tenders awaiting final approval for 2026. We see an increased potential for Maskon products in the coming years for Chile.

The last couple of months Artur Simoes has visited ScaleAQ Chile, working closely with the technical department. His scope was to knowledge transfer of plastic pend production and assist in forming a base for delivering plastic pens into the Chilean market in the future. We believe ScaleAQ is the one company that can design and deliver a system that can handle the currents and sealions here in Chile, while also maintaining an effective operational cost for the farmers.

For 2026, we’ve already made substantial progress towards next year’s sales goals. For 2026 we sat an ambitious 41% growth target. The commercial area is led by Oscar Berrios.

Production

In October, we restructured the Production department into the newly formed Technical Department. This department will be combining steel production, equipment assembly, engineering, planning, and project management under one manager. This reorganization has fostered closer collaboration, with substantial benefits anticipated by 2026 and 2027 in operational excellence and process modernization. The new technical area is led by Cesar Navarrete.

Human Resources

In September, we restructured our HR operations in Chile, appointing Yarikza Oyarzo as HR Manager. The management team initiated a series of workshops in December to craft an HR strategy for ScaleAQ Chile, anchored in the Group strategy but tailored to local needs. It focuses on three key pillars: People, Culture, and Safety. Our HR team will transition from operational management to a strategic role, ensuring the right talent is in place and fostering their growth. Culturally, we aim to cultivate an environment prioritizing our employees and customers, developing transformative leadership to guide our evolution. Safety remains paramount, with a strategy emphasizing a shared commitment among all employees. 

Service

The service area is working in improving its operations and processes. In September/October the facilities for camera systems and support area were renovated and modernized. The higher standard has already paid off in both efficiency and added capacity.

Further Service has been working on reorganizing the structure and is now moving on to training technicians to a higher level, that reflects the standard we ask of us selves and the customers expect from ScaleAQ.

Service area is led by Luis Sepulveda, which joined the company in March this year.

Finans

After facing record-low revenue in 2024, this year has seen significant recovery with expected revenue growth of 40% by year-end. Our focus for the coming years includes capturing additional market share and strategically expanding our company through investments in people, processes, and infrastructure, while steadily increasing our EBIT.

In 2026 the implementation of Dynamics starts in Chile, which will greatly enhance the effectivity in ScaleAQ Chile. We are today working in obsolete platforms or still manual with pen and paper. The implementation will be led locally in Chile by the Finance area.

The finance area is led by Mauricio Plasencio.

Bord of Directors

In September, we expanded the board with two new members, enriching ScaleAQ Chile with diverse expertise for future evolution and growth. The board now includes:

• Morten Nordstad, Chairman and member of both ScaleAQ Group and Maskon boards, with a background in Pharmaq.
• Ben Øksnes, Managing Director at Scale Aquaculture CAS AS and Interim CEO Chile, bringing over 20 years of fish farming experience.
• Vilma Cavieres, retired, formerly HR Director at Mowi Chile for 23 years.
• Åsmund Ellingsen, Norwegian, and a long-term resident of Chile with background in economics, salmon export, and currently mussel farming operations in Chile.

New CEO

Our CEO recruitment process is in its final phase, with a decision set for early January. The process has been thorough to ensure the right fit, and we are optimistic about the final candidates. An announcement will follow shortly thereafter.