Aker Maritime, which wants wide-ranging link-ups with Kvaerner, proposed a new board for Kvaerner before a corporate showdown on Friday. Aker, the top shareholder in Kvaerner with 17.8 percent, put forward Pehr Gyllenhammar, chairman of Britain's biggest insurance group CGNU, as chairman of its proposed board. Kvaerner has said it opposes Aker's plans for link-ups. Gyllenhammar said he hoped he could help resolve the clash between the two Norwegian industrial groups but stressed he would be independent. "The new board will have a completely free rein to assess the best strategy for Kvaerner," he said. Last month, Kvaerner's own election committee proposed a new board led by former Christiania Bank chairman Harald Arnkvaern.