ZEM appoints Jonathan Sørbye as new CEO to accelerate international growth and strategic expansion

Jonathan Sørbye, who will become CEO of ZEM AS, this October.

 ZEM AS, a pioneer in zero-emission marine propulsion solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Sørbye as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective beginning of October.

“Following Egil Mollestad’s successful efforts in developing ZEM, we now welcome Jonathan Sørbye as the CEO of ZEM, starting in early October this year. Jonathan is an experienced leader with an extensive background in the marine industry, and he brings with him a strong track record of driving growth and value creation in international environments,” says Johan Inden, Chairman of the Board of ZEM.

Most recently, Jonathan has served as Director of Trade and International Growth at Innovation Norway, where he has overseen initiatives supporting the global expansion of Norwegian companies. He previously held senior leadership roles at Wilhelmsen and Hydro,where he worked across international business development, commercial shipping, and strategic operations.

“Being deeply committed to ZEM both as a minority owner and through 10 years as CEO, I am really looking forward to continuing the journey with ZEM in a new role and to onboarding Jonathan as the CEO. Through the recruitment process I have gotten to know Jonathan and I am confident in his capabilities to lead ZEM into the future,” says Egil Mollestad, former CEO and founder of ZEM.

“I am truly excited to join ZEM at such a pivotal time,” says Jonathan Sørbye. “The maritime sector is undergoing a profound transformation, and ZEM is uniquely positioned to lead this change. I look forward to working with the talented team at ZEM, our majority owner Volvo Penta and our partners across the industry to deliver sustainable impact through zero-emissions solutions.”

Jonathan succeeds former CEO Egil Mollestad, who is stepping down after 15 years of leadership but will continue to serve on the board and be operational in the company.

With this appointment, ZEM reinforces its ambition to accelerate the shift toward zero-emission maritime transport and strengthen its global footprint in sustainable marine technologies.