General Oceans Appointed New Division Leaders
The firm installed new executive leadership across three specialized marine technology subsidiaries.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in People
General Oceans appointed new executive vice presidents for its Nortek, RS Aqua Ltd, and Reach Robotics units, effective September 1, 2026. This leadership transition follows a period of organizational change across the parent company’s marine technology portfolio.
Why it matters
These appointments solidify management roles as General Oceans integrates its recent acquisitions and adapts to competitive shifts in the marine sector. For operators, such changes often signal a shift in strategic focus or operational prioritization within the acquired business lines.
The new leaders bring significant tenure to their roles, including Jannicke Koch-Hagen’s 30 years of industry experience and Louis Burnard’s 16-year background at Fugro. These appointments replace predecessors including Martin Stemp, who departed RS Aqua after a 14-year tenure.
The players
General Oceans
A holding company focused on the marine technology sector, managing a portfolio of specialized subsidiary businesses.
Jannicke Koch-Hagen
The newly appointed Executive Vice President of Nortek with 30 years of industry experience.
Louis Burnard
The new Executive Vice President of RS Aqua Ltd who previously led a global commercial transformation at Fugro.
Nathan King
The newly appointed Executive Vice President of Reach Robotics who oversaw operations for several months prior to his appointment.
Fugro
A global geodata specialist firm that previously employed Louis Burnard.
The details
General Oceans, which acquired RS Aqua in November 2024, has restructured its leadership team to stabilize management across its specialized brands. Jannicke Koch-Hagen moved to her permanent role at Nortek following a month-long acting period, while Nathan King transitioned into his EVP position after managing Reach Robotics operations for several months. Louis Burnard joins RS Aqua following his departure from Fugro, where he led a global commercial transformation strategy.
Timeline
November 2024: General Oceans acquired RS Aqua.
Summer 2026: Bjorn Ladegard departed from Nortek.
August 2026: Jannicke Koch-Hagen began serving as acting EVP of Nortek.
September 1, 2026: Jannicke Koch-Hagen assumed her role as permanent EVP.
Market Landscape
These appointments follow the November 2024 acquisition of RS Aqua by General Oceans, which marked a significant consolidation in the marine technology sector. Such transitions often mirror standard post-acquisition integration trends where firms move to install permanent leadership to align subsidiary strategy with the parent firm.
Operators in the marine technology space should monitor the new executives for changes in procurement or partnership priorities as they settle into their roles. Keep a close watch on product development cycles or service agreements as these new leaders implement their respective divisional strategies.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at the executive level often serve as a bellwether for shifts in a firm's operational focus. Track the inaugural statements or product roadmaps from these new EVPs to gauge how General Oceans will allocate resources across its specialized portfolio in the coming fiscal year.
Further reading
For more on industry management changes, visit our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Marine Technology Reporter Magazine.
