GARDABAER, Iceland – Arni Oddur Thordarson was appointed CEO of Marel effective immediately. He succeeds Theo Hoen, who has been the company’s CEO since 2009.

Thordarson brings extensive international business experience to the position. He has served on the board of directors in Marel since 2005, mostly as chairman. He has a master’s of business administration from IMD Business School in Switzerland and a degree in Business Administration from the Univ. of Iceland.


“I look forward to working closely with the exceptional Marel team,” Thordarson said. “Marel has established a global service network spanning more than 30 countries and it strives for continued technical leadership through innovation. The company´s growth story has been a success and we have great opportunities to capture increased value for customers and shareholders. The key is to fully align execution with strategic goals based on Marel’s core competencies.”

Hoen has been with Marel and Stork Food Systems since 1986, according to the company. He has served as Marel's CEO since early 2009.

“In recent years, Marel has strengthened its position as the global market leader in providing advanced equipment, systems and services to the fish, meat and poultry industries,” said Asthildur Otharsdottir, chairman of the board of directors. “Theo Hoen has been an integral part of the Marel and Stork Food System story for 28 years. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Theo for his contribution to the growth and success of Marel.”