Wilhelmsen finance executive Morten Lertro has died after a long illness, the Norwegian shipping group has announced.

Lertro joined the group in 2009. He was most recently chief financial officer of investment company Treasure, as well as managing director of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services and head of treasury at Wilh Wilhelmsen Holding.

"It is with deep sorrow we announce that Morten Lertro, our CFO, has passed away after battling cancer the past 19 months," said Treasure chairman Thomas Wilhelmsen said.