Helge Lund nominated as new Chair of the Board of Yara International

The Nomination Committee of Yara International ASA has nominated Helge Lund as the new Chair of the Board of the company. The appointment is expected to take place following Yara’s Annual General Meeting, 12 May 2026.

The Chair of the Nomination Committee, Otto Søberg, highlights Lund’s extensive international leadership experience and strong track record from complex, global businesses.

“The Nomination Committee would like to express our appreciation to Trond Berger for his pivotal contribution during his tenure as Chair of Yara. His strong commitment, sound judgement and steady leadership have been important in guiding the company through a period marked by significant volatility and change,” said Søberg.

“The Committee is pleased to nominate Helge Lund as new Chair of the Board. Lund brings extensive experience from leading and governing large, international and highly complex organizations, as well as deep insight into energy intensive industries, capital markets and geopolitics. The Committee is confident that his experience and perspective will be a strong asset to Yara going forward.”

Helge Lund is an experienced executive, board chair and board member, with previous roles as CEO of Equinor (formerly Statoil), BG Group and Aker Kværner. He has also served as Chair of the Boards of BP plc and Novo Nordisk, and holds extensive international board experience across a range of industries.

Commenting on the nomination, Lund said:

“I greatly appreciate the confidence shown by the Nomination Committee and I am honored to be nominated as Chair of the Board of Yara. Yara plays a critical role in global food security and industrial value chains, operating at the intersection of agriculture, energy and geopolitics. I look forward to working closely with the Board, management and employees to support Yara’s long‑term strategy and continued value creation.” 

The current Chair of the Board, Trond Berger, will step down from the role at the Annual General Meeting in May, after eight years on the Board and six years as Chair.

Berger assumed the role of Chair in May 2020, at the outset of the Covid‑19 pandemic. Since then, Yara has navigated a succession of extraordinary external challenges, including global supply‑chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, an energy crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sanctions affecting key sourcing regions, and heightened market volatility. The company has simultaneously strengthened its operational resilience, adapted its sourcing and risk management strategies, delivered a comprehensive cost‑reduction programme, and clarified strategic priorities and capital allocation.

Despite these challenges, Yara delivered record‑high production volumes in 2025, reflecting a resilient organization with strong execution capabilities.

“It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of Yara during an extraordinary period for the company and the world. Yara has navigated significant geopolitical, market and regulatory changes, while strengthening its position as a leading global crop nutrition company. Yara has a highly competent organization and a clear sense of purpose, and I am confident that Helge Lund will continue to support and strengthen the company’s development in the years ahead,” said Berger.

Additional Board nominations

The Nomination Committee has also nominated Martina Merz and Ivar Vatne as new members of the Board of Directors. John Thuestad and Tove Feld are not standing for re‑election.

Martina Merz is an experienced industry leader and board member with considerable experience from central roles in European industry. She most recently served as CEO of ThyssenKrupp AG (2019–2023). Prior to this Ms. Merz was CEO of Chassis Brakes International (2012–2015) and held several senior leadership roles in Robert Bosch GmbH, including Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing in the Chassis Systems Brakes division. She has also held executive roles in Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co.

Merz is a board member of Volvo Group AB, Robert Bosch GmbH, and Umicore. She has previously served on the boards of Siemens AG, Rio Tinto, Deutsche Lufthansa, Imerys, Bekaert and SAF-Holland.

Ivar Vatne is CEO of Billerud AB (since 2023), having previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company (2019–2023). Prior to joining Billerud, Mr. Vatne had senior finance roles in Arla Foods, including CFO for Sweden and the United Kingdom. Earlier in his career, he served as Vice President Finance Europe at Fiskars, and held various finance positions in Procter & Gamble. 

Contacts

Maria Gabrielsen
Investor contact
M: +47 92090093
E: maria.gabrielsen@yara.com

Tonje Næss
Media contact
M: +47 40844647
E: tonje.nass@yara.com

About Yara

Yara is a global leader in crop nutrition and ammonia with a mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet.

Yara operates a global, flexible production system that delivers a diversified portfolio of nitrogen-based products. With our extensive global market reach and more than a century of agronomic knowledge and continuous innovation, we partner across the value chain to improve crop yields, optimize resource use, and reduce environmental impact.

Through diversified energy exposure and profitable decarbonization efforts, Yara is uniquely positioned to strengthen industrial competitiveness and create long‑term value for customers, shareholders, employees, and society at large.

Founded in Norway in 1905, Yara operates in over 60 countries and serves more than 140 markets, employing about 15,700 people. In 2025, Yara reported revenues of USD 15.7 billion.

For more information, visit Yara.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.