Hege Yli Melhus (32) is from 3 May employed as Executive Vice President Market and enters the Group management of Hafslund ASA. Melhus assumes the position from Cato Haugen who resigns based upon own desire to prioritise own investments. The business area Private will take over the responsibility of Strøm Bedrift (Corporate Power Sales) and change name to Market.

 

Hege Yli Melhus has been employed by Hafslund since 2002, and until recently as Director Products and Marketing where she has been responsible for product development and pricing of the groups electricity- and alarm services to the residential market, customer dialog and the group's communication. Melhus has previously managed the Group's Corporate Staff. Melhus has further experience as investment analyst with Kistefos Venture Capital AS and worked as research assistant at INSEAD in France.

 

Melhus has a Maîtrise des Sciences de Gestion degree with specialisation in finance from Université Paris IX Dauphine and Université Toulouse 1 in France. She is chairman of the board

 

of Norges Energi AS, Fredrikstad EnergiSalg AS and Hallingkraft AS. Melhus and parties closely related to her own no shares in Hafslund ASA.

 

Cato Haugen will be available for the Hafslund Group for a period of transition, and will continue as board member of Hafslund's security operations.

 

Hafslund ASA

 

Oslo, 4 May 2006