29 September 2025 – Norway-based ship designer HAV Design has appointed Richard Schofield as its new managing director.
Schofield has 20 years’ management experience from maritime industries. He has held leadership roles at maritime suppliers Kongsberg Evotec and Vard Electro, at aquaculture industry supplier Optimar, and at ship designer Ulstein Design & Solutions. Schofield started his career at defence industry supplier BAE Systems.
Schofield is a British national who has lived in the maritime-focused Sunnmøre region of Norway for the past 15 years. He joins HAV Design from a role as head of industrial competitiveness at cross-industrial cluster organisation NCE iKuben. He holds an engineering degree in product development and manufacturing from Loughborough University, UK.
“Richard brings extensive experience from the maritime industry, from ship design, engineering, project management, operations and technology development. He has supported customers on projects in multiple vessel segments where HAV Design has a strong market position. We look forward to welcoming him to the company,” says Gunnar Larsen, chairman of HAV Design.
HAV Design develops vessels that ensure sustainability, flexibility, and profitability from a lifecycle perspective. This is achieved through deep insight into the needs of shipowners and customers, close collaboration with stakeholders in the value chain, and a leading ability to predict operational performance.
HAV Design is a subsidiary of HAV Group ASA, listed on Euronext Growth Oslo, and headquartered in Fosnavåg, Norway.
Schofield will join HAV Design latest 1 January 2026. He succeeds Stig Magne Espeseth, who has moved into a role as SVP Design at the company.
(ENDS)
For further information, please contact:
Gunnar Larsen, chairman of HAV Design
gunnar.larsen@havgroup.no
+47 901 05 694
About HAV Design
HAV Design is a global leader within energy-efficient and competitive ship designs with zero emission ambitions. With a proven track record from more than 120 vessel designs, state-of-the-art know-how, and virtual design tools, HAV Design accommodates sustainable solutions equipped to meet the environmental and commercial requirements of the future.
Based on our Norwegian heritage, experience, quality focus and innovative solutions, our insight provides our customers with a head start, increases their competitiveness, and enables them to realize the green shift towards a sustainable future at sea.
In addition, at HAV Ocean Lab we offer our customers a virtual test tank with digital twins of ships and ocean areas, which is unique in a commercial context. The goal is to minimize the environmental impact and increase our customers’ competitiveness.