Geminor founder, Kjetil Vikingstad, has stepped down as CEO after 20 years at the helm of the Norwegian waste and raw materials company. He is succeeded by Håvard Framnes who holds a degree in economics and business administration from the Norwegian School of Economics and was previously CEO of the Østensjø group, a family-owned shipping company based in Haugesund.
The new chief executive "possesses the strategic experience and leadership qualities necessary to drive our continued growth and success," says Truls Gautesen, chairman of the board at Geminor. After seven years in that role, Mr Gautesen would also be stepping down, the company said.
Mr Framnes underlined the work the company's management and employees had done in developing Geminor into a leading player in the European waste market. The new CEO said the company was "well-positioned to continue its growth in an exciting and dynamic market".
Outgoing CEO Kjetil Vikingstad founded Geminor as a one-man operation in 2004, the company reported. Since then, the business has grown to around 150 employees, with operations in nine European countries. Geminor says that it now manages around 2.5 million tonnes of waste a year, and generated revenue of NOK3bn in 2024, the equivalent of around €255m.
Mr Vikingstad is to transition to a newly created role within Geminor, the company said. In this role, "he will continue to influence the company’s strategic direction by supporting the development of other group companies and managing challenging projects that require his extensive experience and expertise", according to the company.
