"We are delighted to congratulate Knut Arild Hareide on his appointment and look forward to working with him in the years to come," says Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation, Lars Alvestad.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries announced the appointment on Friday 12 November.
You can read the full press release here (only available in Norwegian).
"The Norwegian Maritime Authority works to help strenghten Norway's position as a leading maritime nation. Knut Arild Hareide is a highly skilled leader with a background in both politics and business. Having held two ministerial posts, Knut Arild Hareide knows the administration and the sector well. I look forward to working with him in the coming years," says Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Bjørnar Skjæran (Norwegian Labour Party).
Knut Arild Hareide was leader of the Christian Democratic Party from 2011 to 2019 and has been active in both local and national politics. Hareide was a member of the Storting from 2009 to 2021. From 2004 to 2005 he was Minister of the Environment, and from 2020 to 2021 he was Minister of Transport and Communications. He holds an MSc in Business Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, and has worked as Organisation Director, Project Manager and Business Developer in Schibsted.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority is a key player in the implementation of the Green Shift in the maritime industry and a natural partner to the entire maritime industry.
The new Director General will lead an important organisation of expertise with an extensive national and regional presence and interaction with a wide range of national and international players.