Chairman of the Board

Thomas G. Michelet
Attorney and partner, Advokatfirmaet Selmer DA (Selmer Law Firm)

The main practice areas of Mr Michelet are private and public domestic and cross-border M&As, joint ventures and alliances, corporate strategy, banking and finance. Mr Michelet has advised on a number of investment projects in Russia within shipping, food, oil&gas, forestry, agriculture and media. He has since 1995 assisted IFC, as well as both the EBRD (London) and its North-West and West Regional Venture Fund on equity and loan projects. Thomas G. Michelet is cand.jur. from the University of Oslo, and a Master of Laws from the University of Aberdeen.

Deputy Chairman:

Reidar Karlsen, Consultant in Business development and Management

Mr Karlsen holds board positions in several Norwegian and Russian companies. Reidar Karlsen is former Executive Vice President in A-pressen ASA responsible for the company`s media activities in Russia. Since 1996 he has established A-pressen’s business in Russia including newspapers and printing houses, and was heavily involved also operationally.  Reidar Karlsen was in this respect member of the Board of Directors of Russia’s major daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, as well is in the national sports newspaper Sovietsky Sport and other newspapers in Russia. Before joining the Russia team in A-pressen, he has worked within the company’s national business, among others as General Director in Arbeiderbladet (now Dagsavisen). Reidar Karlsen has broad experience from business development and management from senior positions in media, energy sector, and aviation. His basic education is military - he left the Army with the rank of Lt Colonel.

Members of the NRCC Board:

Since joining Telenor in 2000, Mr Ole Bjoern Sjulstad has held several leading positions in Telenor Asia such as Vice President and then Managing Director of Telenor Asia Pte Ltd in Singapore, and later Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Development, Asia Region. In 2007 he joined Telenor’s Central & Eastern European regional unit with a specific responsibility towards Telenor’s interests in Russia through the ownership in Vimpelcom, the second largest mobile operator in Russia. Mr. Sjulstad is a member of the BOD of Vimpelcom, a member of the BOD of Grameenphone Limited, Bangladesh, and chairman of the BOD of Telenor Russia AS. Prior to joining Telenor Mr. Sjulstad held various management positions within subsea oil & gas engineering companies (10 years) and information technology companies (6 years) based in Norway and the U.S. Mr. Sjulstad holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration from Norway and has completed the Program for Executive Development at IMD, Switzerland.

Untill recently Mrs Ingelill Jacobsen has been working as Marketing Manager for Russia and Ukraine in the NSEC, as well as held other positions in the same organisation. Mrs Jacobsen is graduated Bachelor of Arts from University of Tromsoe (Russian, history and business) and is presently studying for a Master of Management degree at the Norwegian School of Management (BI). Her background includes Organization and management, marketing and economy studies from BI and several courses in language and business. Mrs Jacobsen speaks Norwegian, English and Russian fluently.

Mr Hans Chr. Dall Nygard is the responsible for Russian investment operations in CapMan and CEO of Norum Private Equity Advisors, advising the CapMan Russia Fund L.P., a MEUR 118 private equity fund for Russia, and successor fund of Norum I and II. Significant investors in the fund are financial institutions like EBRD, IFC, FMO and DnB NOR Bank. Norum group was acquired by CapMan plc, a listed pan-Nordic PE group in May 2008. Mr Hans Chr. Dall Nygard has been involved in private equity in Russia since 1996. He has been the investment director of Norum, the manager of the North West and West Russia Regional Venture Fund (Norum I and II), whose main investor is EBRD. MUSD 80 has been invested into 24 companies in a broad range of sectors. He has been in the board of directors of several of the portfolio companies in Norum I and II. Mr Dall Nygard has an executive MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen, and also a Degree in Russian Language from the University of Bergen, Norway.

Before joining Eksportfinans in 2004, Mrs. Budkova worked in Norges Bank as Science associate, Sparebanken Vest as Treasury associate and DOF Shipping (Mokster & Co) as Marketing Executive. In 2004 she joined Eksportfinans within Shipping Department and partly Oil & Gas. The portfolio of client from Russia contains Gazprom Shelf, RUsAl, PRISCO, Metro, Sevmash, and others. Mrs. Budkova holds Master degree in Economics (Siv.ok.) from Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH). She is also completing the Executive MBA in Strategic Management and Leadership from NHH and St. Gallen (Switzerland) in 2010.

Mr. Svein Ruud has more than 15 years experience from Norwegian-Russian Trade. In 1994-1997 he worked as a Director General of Barents Company in Kirkenes, and afterwards served as Commercial Councellor in the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow in 1997-2002. Mr Ruud started Troika Seafood in 2002, and also a founder, part owner and strategic leader of Norway King Crab. Svein Ruud was also one of the co-founders of the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce in 2003.

Before joining Innovation Norway, Mr Erik Welle-Watne has held leading positions in Sandsvaer Sparebank, ABC Bank/Sparebanken Nor, NOR Bedriftssenter in Oslo and later worked as Director in SND responsible for Corporate Section. Welle-Watne is presently responsible for two investment funds with portfolio in Russia and has been a Board Member in several companies established in Russia, Eastern and Central Europe by the funds. Mr Welle-Watne is cand. jur. and holds a degree in economy from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH).

Bjoern Celius, General Manager, DnB NOR, Corporate Market Division, Oslo, responsible for DnB NOR Monchebank, Murmansk

Since Mr Bjoern Celius joined DnB NOR in 1984, he has held positions as Assistant General Director and later General Director in DnB Kirkenes. From late 1980-s Mr Celius became responsible for DnB NOR’s activities in the North-Western Russia and in 1999-2006 worked as Head of DnB NOR’s Representative Office in Murmansk. Mr Celius holds a law degree (1979).

Benedikt Henriksen, Head of Industrial Relations and Procurement, Statoil Russia

Mr Benedikt Henriksen is responsible for Industrial Relations and Procurement for Statoil's operations in Russia. Before joining the newly merged StatoilHydro in 2007 as Head of Claims and Warranties in the company's Head Office in Stavanger, Mr Henriksen has worked for more than 15 years in Norsk Hydro ASA (1992-2007), hereunder as Project Manager for Hydro's Supplier Development Program for Russia in 2003-2006. Mr Henriksen holds a law degree (1980).

Mr Toerhaug is responsible for DNV Energy activities in the Northern Europe, Russia and Kazakhstan which involves managing risks for oil and gas industry in these regions. Before that, he was leading DNV’s consultancy services department for upstream oil and gas industry.

During the last 25 years Mr Toerhaug has held several leading positions within DNV in Norway and the US. Mr Magne Toerhaug holds a civil engineering degree from Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH).

Presently working on new global aluminium opportunities for Hydro with specific focus on Russia and other energy rich areas.

Past experience of Mr Martinsen includes 5 years as head of Hydro’s business in Brazil and head of Hydro’s Aluminium business in Russia and CIS with main focus on commercial activities and investment opportunities.

NRCC Council:

Independent consultant, hereunder advising Telenor's management. In 2000-2007 - Vice President in Telenor ASA responsible for establishing and managing Telenor's ownership in telecom companies in Russia and Ukraine. Mr Torgersen has held several board positions in Telenor-owned companies, hereunder 8 years in VimpelCom, Russia. Before joining Telenor, Mr Torgersen worked for Andersen Consulting and before that in IBM. Mr Henrik Torgersen is graduated civil engineer from Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH) with additional education from IMD.

Members of the Council:

Johan P. Barlindhaug, Barlindhaug, Tromsoe

Mr Johan P. Barlindhaug is presently President of the Board in North Energy AS. He has estabished and managed advisory company Barlindhaug in Tromsoe until 2004. Mr Barlindhaug was appointed leader of Governmental Regional Commission (Distriktskommisjon) which in 2004 came with a proposal about Norwegian regional policy. Advisor for oil companies and Norwegian authorities as for the development in the High North.

Bengt Lie Hansen, StatoilHydro Russia, Moscow

Presently President of StatoilHydro Russia, Mr Bengt Lie Hansen has been leading Hydros activities in Russia and from September 2004 leading Hydro's Schtokman-project. Before that, Mr Lie Hansen has been responsible for Hydro's activities in the Middle Norway and acted as Chairman of the Board in Ormen Lange. Since joining Hydro in 1983, he has had several leading positions within areas gas, research, economy, strategy and commercial activities.

Mr Tormod Hermansen is presently an independent consultant with the company Hermansen Consulting. In 1995-2002 he has held a position of CEO of Telenor ASA, and before that CEO in Televerket. Mr Hermansen was responsible for the very first Telenor investments in the Russian telecom sector in the 1990s.

Jens P. Heyerdahl d.y., Oslo

Former CEO of Orkla (1979-2001), Mr Jens P. Heyerdahl d.y. has built the concern up from being a middle-size mining and metallurgy company to a Scandinavian group of companies with diversified activities. Under his management, Orkla has made several stategical investments in Russia in the 1990s. Mr Heyerdahl has held several board positions, and is now a board member in Dagbladet.

Hans Jochum Horn, Renaissance Group, Moscow

Mr Hans Jochum Horn, COO of Renaissance Group, Moscow, one of the most profiled investment and advisory companies in Russia, joined the company in 2005. In 1990-2005 - partner in Ernst & Young Russia and CIS, in 2002-2005 - member in Ernst & Young's Global Council. In 2004, Mr Horn was ranged as one of the Top 100 Business Leaders in Russia by Kommersant Business Daily.

Frode Mellemvik, High North Center for Business, Bodoe

Professor Frode Mellemvik is presently Director for High North Center for Business in Bodoe and former rector at Bodoe High School of Management. He has a vast experience of cooperation with Russian educational institutions in the High North and in Moscow (MGIMO). Mr Mellemvik is also a member of the Governmental Expert Commission on the Hight North (Regjeringens ekspertutvalg for Nordområdene)

Birger Steen, Microsoft, Moscow

Presently Vice-President of Microsoft Russia, Mr Birger Steen has been a head of Microsoft's operations in Russia since 2004 and Microsoft's activities Norway in the period 2002-2004. He has work experience from Eniro, SOL, Schibsted and McKinsey. Graduated civil engineer from Norwegian Institute of Technology and holds a MBA degree from INSEAD. He has also completed interpreter education in Norway.

Chairman of the Board and owner of Tschudi Shipping Company, holding company for Tschudi Group. Board member in FPS Ocean ASA. Since 2006 Mr Tschudi has been involved in revitalisation of mining activities of Sydvaranger AS in Kirkenes. Between 1992 and 2002 - CEO Tschudi & Eitzen. In the late 1980s Mr Felix H. Tschudi was involved in developing trade between Norway and Eastern Europe, hereunder the former Soviet Union. Former Chairman of the Board in Oslo Shipping Association, Norwegian representative in Intertanko's Council, member of the committee in Forsikring Skuld, Board Member in Oslo Maritime Network and Aschehoug & Co. Mr Tschudi has a maritime education from England, holds a BSC at London School of Economics and an MBA degree from INSEAD, France.