Board of Directors

Kjell Bjordal (1953) Board chair

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 and board chair since 2013. Member of the remuneration committee since 2012 and committee chair since 2013. 

Self-employed. 

Experience as CEO of EWOS Group and head of Cermaq’s fish food division. CEO of NorAqua, finance director and CEO of the Glamox Group and director at Trøndelag Theatre. 

Board chairman of Axess, Axess Nordlaks Oppdrett, Nordlaks Smolt and Nordlaks produkter.  Broodstock Capital Partners, II and Norsk Landbrukskjemi. Deputy board chair of Entra Eiendom and board member of Atlantic Saphire and Hatlehols Grafiske. 

Attended 20 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

Bård Benum (1962) Deputy board chair

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

Board member since March 2009, and deputy chair since 2013. Member of the internal audit committee since 2009 and member of the risk committee since 2013. 

Group CEO at Powel. 

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

Attended 20 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

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 the 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, respectively, Bachke & Co and Det norske oljeselskap.

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

Attended 19 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

Arnhild Holstad (1963)

Cand.mag. degree and journalist. 

Board member since 2010. 

Chief executive officer, Namsos municipality.

Communication manager at Statskog (2007-2015). 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).

Attended 19 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

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. Member of the remuneration committee since 2012.

Special inspector on the staff of the director of the mid-Norway region, Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Experience from the fish farming industry in the fields of fish health and product development, marketing and sale of medicinal products for fish. 

Chair 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 and the control committee and the supervisory board of SpareBank 1 SMN.

Attended 20 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

Morten Loktu (1960)

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

Board member since 2013. Member of the remuneration committee since 2013.

Senior Vice President with responsibility for LEAN & Operational Improvements at Statoil.

Joined Statoil in 1985 and has held various posts including in research and development. Executive director in charge of Statoil’s technology organisation (2000-2002). Senior Vice President, research and development at Statoil (2005-2010). Area director, Statoil’s production and development activity off Mid-Norway and North Norway (2011-2016).

Group CEO, SINTEF Group (2002-2004).

Attended 16 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

Janne Thyø Thomsen (1957)

Cand. Jur. (law) degree, University of Copenhagen (1981). Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Copenhagen Business School (1986).    

Board member since 2014. Member of the audit and risk committee since 2014.

Consultant and owner at JT Targeting in Denmark.

Previously Senior Vice President at Moody’s rating agency (1997–2012). Prior to that with Yamaichi International (Europe) Limited (1987–1995), with the Ministry of Finance, Government Debt Office (1984–1987) and with the Export Credit Council, Ministry of Industry (1981–1984). Board member of Nordic Credit Rating AS.

Attended 20 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

Erik Gunnes (1966)

Three-year business school. Bank-related training at Bankakademiet and BI Norwegian Business School. 

Regularly attending alternate member for the employees since 2014-2016. Board member for the employees from 2016. 

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

Board member of the Finance Sector Union in Trøndelag (2010–2012).

Attended 20 of 20 meetings of the Board of Directors in 2017.

Venche Jonsen (1952)

Varied education at Bankademiet and at university college level. 

Board member 2004-2016. 

Alternate member for the employees 2016 – March 2017. Permanent member for the employees from March 2017. 

Group employee representative at the Finance Sector Union branch at SpareBank 1 SMN. 32 years' experience in various positions with SpareBank 1 Midt-Norge. 

Attended 15 of 15 Board meetings in 2017.