Wallem Group has decided to make a change at the helm with the current CEO John-Kaare Aune stepping down from the position and being replaced by John Rowley. The switch will be completed in January 2024, following a transition period. 

Nigel Hill, Wallem Group Chairman, said, “On behalf of the Wallem Board, I would like to thank John for his leadership and dedication over the past three years as CEO. We are grateful for his hard work and commitment in stabilising Wallem’s operations and positioning the company for growth after what has been a challenging time for the maritime industry. We respect John’s decision, and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”

On his departure, John-Kaare Aune, outgoing Wallem Group CEO, said, ‘It was a difficult decision to step aside as the Wallem Group CEO. However, with operations having normalised after the impact of the pandemic, I felt that the time was right. Now that my successor has been identified, I will be exploring new opportunities. It has been an honour to have had the opportunity to be part of the Wallem Group, we have improved client service levels, continued the digitalisation of the company services, and set the foundation for Wallem’s journey towards decarbonisation.”

Incoming CEO John Rowley is joining Wallem as the current senior vice president global food and transportation at NSF, prior to which he was CEO at SAI Global Assurance. Prior to that, he was part of the Lloyds Register Group

On John Rowley’s appointment, Nigel Hill, Wallem Group Chairman, said, “We are delighted to appoint John Rowley as Wallem Group’s next CEO with his experience in, and understanding of, the global maritime industry and his successful track record of accelerating revenue growth across a number of industry sectors. The Wallem Board and I look forward to working with him to ensure the success of the next stage of Wallem’s journey.”

John Rowley, incoming Wallem Group CEO, said, “I am thrilled to be joining Wallem Group as CEO of this amazing organisation. Wallem is one of the maritime industry’s most trusted and respected brands, and I look forward to working together with the Wallem board, management, and employees, as well as the many clients and stakeholders, to lead the company forward through the next chapter of its incredible voyage.”