The Norwegian Seafood Council's (NSC) former top executive in the United States has stepped out of the national marketing group into the private sector.

NSC USA Director Egil Ove Sundheim will be joining Norwegian sales and marketing group Villa Seafood, according to a Facebook post from the Alesund-based company.

Sundheim has worked for NSC for 22 years in a variety of different roles, including six years as the top envoy in the United States.

NSC announced earlier this year that former Salmon Group CEO Anne-Kristine Oen will take on Sundheim's former post.