Board of Directors

Kjell Bjordal (1953) Board Chairman

Business economist from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration NHH (1976), law studies and Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School (1989).

Board member since 2007.

Self-employed.

Experience as CEO of EWOS Group and head of Cermaq’s fish food division. Finance director and CEO of the Glamox Group, CEO of NorAqua and director of Trøndelag Theatre. Chairman of Axess, Brødrene Dyrøy, Norsk Landbrukskjemi and Florvaag Bruk Holding. Board member of Entra Eiendom and Pharmaq.

Attended 17 of 17 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2013.

Bård Benum (1962)

Graduate of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (1987).

Board member since March 2009.

Group CEO at Powel. Senior positions at Norsk Hydro, Statoil, Reitan Group. CEO at Cresco (1998-2000) and Vital Forsikring (2001-2007).

Attended 16 of 17 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2013.

Paul E. Hjelm-Hansen (1962)

MBA from the University of Denver, USA (1988), Certified European Financial Analyst (AFA) from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (1996) and Authorised Portfolio Manager (Norwegian Society of Financial Analysts/Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration) (2001).

Board member and chairman of the Internal Audit Committee since 2008. Head of Risk Committee since 2013.

Private investor and self-employed financial adviser. Has held positions as financial analyst, as portfolio manager at Christiania Bank og Kreditkasse and Fokus Bank and as head of finance and finance director at Bachke & Co and Det norske oljeselskap respectively.

Chairman of Arild og Emilie Bachkes Fond, Trondhjems Kunstforenings legatstyre and Generalkonsul Adolf Øiens Donationsfond. Board member of Bachke & Co.

Attended 17 of 17 Board meetings in 2013.

Arnhild Holstad (1963)

Cand.mag degree and journalist.

Board member since 2010.

Communication manager at Statskog since 2007. Political adviser at the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion (2005-2007). Project manager at Olav Duun Innovasjon (2003-2005). Journalist with the Namdalsavisa newspaper (1991-2003). Refugee advisor, Aukra municipality (1988-1989). Teacher at Oppegård upper secondary school (1987-1988). Deputy chair, Norwegian State Council on Disability. Board member of NTE Holding.

Attended 17 of 17 Board meetings in 2013.

Aud Skrudland (1959)

Veterinary doctor, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (1984). Specialist in fish diseases. Additional training in marketing and public law.

Board member since 2010.

Special inspector with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Steinkjer. Experience from the fish farming industry in the fields of fish health and product development, marketing and sale of medicinal products for fish.
Member of the programme committee on aquaculture at the Research Council of Norway. Former member of the Averøy municipal council and municipal executive board, the Board of Directors of Romsdals Fellesbank, the Control Committee and the Supervisory Board of SpareBank 1 SMN.

Attended 16 of 17 Board meetings in 2013.

Morten Loktu (1960) 

Master of Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (1984).

Board member since 2013.

Area director, Statoil’s production and development activity off Mid-Norway. Joined Statoil in 1985 and has held various posts including in research and development. In charge of Statoil’s technology organisation, 2000-2002. Senior Vice President, research and development at Statoil, 2005-2010. Group CEO, SINTEF Group, 2002-2004.

Previously board member at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, board member at Rosenborg Ballklub, RBK.

Attended 8 of 12 Board meetings in 2013.

Venche Johnsen (1952)

Varied education at Bankakademiet and at university college level.

Board member since 2004.

Group employee representative at the Finance Sector Union branch at SpareBank 1 SMN. 35 years' experience in various positions with SpareBank 1 SMN.
Attended 16 of 17 Board meetings in 2013.

Bente Karin Trana (1959)

Business economist (1984), continuing education at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (1996, 2009) and the Norwegian Defence University College (2002).

First alternate member to the Board of Directors since 2010.

Head of Department at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration since 2001, previously Head of Administration and Acting Regional Roads Director, Nord-Trøndelag. Thirteen years’ experience of project management with Aker Verdal and Aker Engineering, Oslo. Experience from Nord-Trøndelag University College and the Norwegian Trade Council, Milan.

Board chairman of STAS, Steinkjer. Previous Board member of Accretio, Namsos. Deputy chair Forsvarets høgskoleforening, Oslo.

Attended 14 of 17 Board meetings in 2013.

Jan Gunnar Kvam (1947)

Varied education at Bankakademiet.

Board member since 2004. Regularly attending alternate for the employees. Deputy head of Finance Sector Union branch at SpareBank 1 SMN.

43 years’ experience in various positions with SpareBank 1 SMN.

Attended 16 of 17 Board meetings in 2013.