Peter A. Ruzicka new Orkla President and CEO

The Orkla Board of Directors has appointed Peter A. Ruzicka as new President and CEO. Mr Ruzicka will take up his position on 10 February 2014.

"I am very pleased that Peter A. Ruzicka has accepted the position as new President and CEO of Orkla. Mr Ruzicka knows Orkla and the grocery industry well, and has solid brand expertise. Peter A. Ruzicka is eminently qualified to lead Orkla forward," says Orkla Board Chairman Stein Erik Hagen.

Peter A. Ruzicka has 24 years of experience in the retail sector. He was Managing Director of Hakon Gruppen from 1995 to 2000, and was in charge of establishing ICA in the Baltics. From 1998 to 2000, he was also Deputy CEO of ICA AB. From 2000 he headed Ahold's operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the period 2003-2006, Mr Ruzicka was Managing Director of Jernia ASA, and since 2006 has been Managing Director of Canica AS, Stein Erik Hagen's family company.

Mr Ruzicka has been a member of Orkla's Board of Directors since 2008 and in 2003-2005. He has also been a member of Orka's Audit Committee since 2010 and in 2004-2005.

"I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to lead Orkla in an exciting and important phase for the Group. I want to continue to build on Orkla's strong position as the Nordic region's leading branded consumer goods company," says incoming President and CEO Peter A. Ruzicka.

"I would like to thank Åge Korsvold for his efforts on behalf of Orkla. Mr Korsvold has headed Orkla during a demanding, necessary restructuring of the company," says Stein Erik Hagen.

A  press conference will be held at 9.00 am today at the Vika Atrium conference centre at Munkedamsveien 45, Oslo. The press conference will be held in English and may also be viewed in a live webcast at www.orkla.no. Stein Erik Hagen, Åge Korsvold and Peter A. Ruzicka will be present. Orkla will present its quarterly results at 8.00 am at the same location.

Orkla ASA
Oslo, 6 February 2014

For further information:
EVP Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs
Håkon Mageli: + 47 928 45 828


This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.