Thomas Øybø (45) has been appointed Investment Director at Orkla ASA. He will be responsible for the stock portfolio within the Financial Investment division and will report to EVP Roar Engeland.

 

Thomas Øybø has a degree in Business Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, is an authorised financial analyst and has an MBA from INSEAD. He has worked for Orkla Media since September 2005 as Director of Finance, Strategy and Business Development.

 

Thomas has broad-based business experience and has worked as a line manager, investor and consultant. He has held prominent positions at Alcatel, The Boston Consulting Group, Schibsted and Glastad Invest.

 

 

Jan Wikerholmen (43) has been appointed head of trading for Orkla's stock portfolio.

 

Jan Wikerholmen is a business economist and authorised financial analyst and has an MBA from Washington State University.

 

Jan was previously employed as head of equity at Alfred Berg, before which he was head of trading at DnB Investor, a stockbroker at Elcon Securities and a financial analyst at Sparebanken NOR.

 

 

Ottar Haugerud (42) has been appointed financial analyst for Orkla's stock portfolio.

 

Ottar Haugerud is a business economist and has studied political science.

 

Ottar was previously employed as a financial analyst at SEB Enskilda Securities. Prior to that, he was in charge of metal trading and business development at Hydro Aluminium, and worked as Supply and Logistics Manager at Petrofina and as oil analyst at Norwegian Oil Trading.

 

 

 

Sverre G. Gravdahl  (35) has been appointed financial analyst for Orkla's stock portfolio.

Sverre G. Gravdahl has an engineering degree in Industrial Economics and speaks Russian and other languages fluently.

 

Sverre has many years of experience as a business developer in the technology sector, with particular focus on IT/Telecommunications. Among other things, he has worked on establishing new companies within Ernst & Young, and has specialised expertise in the development and valuation of new business areas in the field of IT/Telecommunications.

 

 

Aina T. Braarud (40) has been appointed Finance Director for Orkla's financial investment operations.

 

Aina T. Braarud is a state-authorised public accountant.

 

Aina is currently Finance Manager at Orkla ASA. She has been employed at Orkla since 1992, and has previously been Finance Manager for the stock portfolio and Accounting Manager for Orkla ASA.

 

 

"Orkla has a highly competent staff in the field of financial investments, which is an important part of Orkla's operations. The appointments we have now made will further strengthen these activities. I am very pleased that Thomas, Aina, Jan, Ottar and Sverre are taking on the challenges and responsibility inherent in these important positions, and I wish them every success in their new functions," says Roar Engeland, EVP, Financial Investments and Corporate Development.