The Board of Directors of DNB ASA is the Group's supreme governing body. Through the Group Chief Executive, the Board shall ensure a sound organisation of the business activities. The Board has three sub-committees: the Risk Management Committee, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Olaug Svarva (born in 1957)
Chair of the board of DNB and DNB Bank since 2018. Chair of the Compensation and Organisation Committee.
Background: Bachelor's degree from Trondheim Economic University College and MBA and B.Sc. from the University of Denver. CEO of Folketrygdfondet (manager of the Government Pension Fund Norway) from 2006 to 2018. Former managing director of SpareBank 1 Aktiv Forvaltning and head of investment management at SpareBank 1 Livsforsikring. Has worked as a financial analyst in Carnegie and DNB.
Other key positions of trust: Chair of the Board of Norfund and board member in Investinor AS and the Institute of International Finance (IIF). Former board member in the Employers’ Association Spekter, Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) and the Norwegian Institute of Directors. Has also been a member of the Election Committees in Telenor, Veidekke, Storebrand and Yara, and has experience from the Corporate Assemblies of Telenor, Statoil and Orkla.
Svein Richard Brandtzæg (born in 1957)
Vice chair of the board. Member of the Audit Committee and the Risk Management Committee.
Background: Graduate engineer with a doctorate in chemistry from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Business graduate from BI Norwegian Business School. CEO of Norsk Hydro from 2009 to 2019, head of various business areas in Norsk Hydro and experience in the company from 1985. Has been chair of the energy and climate committee in the European Round Table for Industry, and was chair of the Committee for Rural Business Development 2019-20.
Other key positions of trust: Chair of the Board of Veidekke. Board member in Swiss Steel in Switzerland, Eramet Norway and Mondi Ltd. UK.
Jaan Ivar Semlitsch (born in 1971)
Board member in DNB since June 2015. Chair of the Compensation and Organisation Committee.
Background: Master's degree in Economics and Business Administration ('Siviløkonom') from the Norwegian School of Economics. CEO of Orkla. Former president and CEO of Dixons Carphone International and Elkjøp Nordic AS. Former Chief Operating Officer of Statoil Retail Europe, Managing Director of Rema Industrier AS and Associate Partner in McKinsey.
Other key positions of trust: Former Chair of the board of Elkjøp Norge AS and Statoil Norge AS. Former and current chair and member of the boards of several Norwegian companies.
Gro Bakstad (born in 1966)
Board member in DNB since 2019. Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Risk Management Committee. Board member in DNB Bank 2017-2019
Background: Master's degree in Economics and Business administration ('Siviløkonom') and state-authorised public accountant from the Norwegian School of Economics. Extensive experience within economics, finance and strategy work. CEO in Vy since 2020. Former Chief Financial Officer of Posten Norge AS, financial adviser at Procorp, Chief Financial Officer of Ocean Rig and Executive Vice President for the Mail Division at Posten Norge AS.
Other key positions of trust: Board member in Veidekke ASA. Former board member in Farstad Shipping ASA and the Employers' Association Spekter.
Jens Petter Olsen (born in 1961)
Board member in DNB since 2020. Chair of the Risk Committee and member of the Audit Comitee.
Background: Master's degree in business administration (higher division) from the Norwegian School of Economics, as well as Master of Philosophy in finance, and participation in the PhD programme at London Business School. Employed in Norges Bank and Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) from 1997 to 2008, and headed the office in New York from 2000 to 2008. Held several positions in Danske Bank from 2008 to 2018, including head of Markets Norway from 2011 to 2014 and head of Capital Markets from 2014 to 2018.
Lillian Hattrem (born in 1972)
Board employee representative in DNB ASA since 2020, Board employee former attending deputy member of the Board of DNB Bank ASA since 2016. Member of the Risk Management Comittee and the Compensation and Organisation Committee.
Background: Education in finance from BI Norwegian Business School. Joined DNB in 1999.
Other key positions of trust: Chief employee representative, Finance Sector Union DNB Member of the Executive Committee of the Finance Sector Union of Norway. Has held several roles and positions of trust, including in the former supervisory board in DNB.
Stian Tegler Samuelsen (born 1964)
Board employee representative in DNB ASA since 2020, and former attending deputy member of the Board of DNB ASA since 2016.
Employed in DNB since 1986 and Chief employee representative/safety representative since 2001.
Other key positions of trust: Chief employee representative on the board of the Finance Sector Union DNB. Head of the department for Buskerud in the Finance Sector Union. Has previously held several other roles and positions of trust, including board member in Sparebanken Nor Buskerud.
Board of Directors of DNB Bank ASA
Olaug Svarva (born in 1957)
Chair of the board of DNB and DNB Bank since 2018. Chair of the Compensation Committee.
Background: Bachelor's degree from Trondheim Economic University College and MBA and B.Sc. from the University of Denver. CEO of Folketrygdfondet (manager of the Government Pension Fund Norway) from 2006 to 2018. Former managing director of SpareBank 1 Aktiv Forvaltning and head of investment management at SpareBank 1 Livsforsikring. Has worked as a financial analyst in Carnegie and DNB.
Other key positions of trust: Board member in Investinor AS, chair of the board of Norfund and board member in the Institute of International Finance (IIF). Former board member in the Employers’ Association Spekter, Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) and the Norwegian Institute of Directors. Has also been a member of the Election Committees in Telenor, Veidekke, Storebrand and Yara, and has experience from the Corporate Assemblies of Telenor, Statoil and Orkla.
Kim Wahl (born in 1960)
Vice chair of the board of DNB Bank since 2019. Board member in DNB Bank since 2013.
Background: MBA from Harvard University. Chair of the board and owner of the private investment company Strømstangen AS. Co-founder of the European Private Equity firm IK Investment Partners, where he was partner and vice chair for 20 years. Also has experience from the US investment bank Goldman Sachs in London and New York.
Other key positions of trust: Chair of the board and co-founder of the Voxtra Foundation, established in 2008 focusing on foreign aid and local investments in East Africa. Board member in UPM Kymmene Corporation and former board member in Intermediate Capital Group plc and the Kavli Trust. Has previously held a number of board positions in various industries.
Julie Galbo (born in 1971)
Board member in DNB Bank since 2020. Observer of the Risk Management Committee and the Audit Comittee.
Background: Holds a law degree from the University of Copenhagen and has completed the Executive Management Programme from Insead.
Former member of the group management of Nordea, holding positions such as Head of Group Business Risk Management, Chief Risk Officer and Head of Legal Structure Programme. Hhas been a member of the Senior Executive Management in Nordea Asset Management.
Has also been Deputy Director of the Financial Supervisory Authority of Denmark and head of government capital contributions.
Eli Solhaug (born 1963)
Board employee representative in DNB Bank as of July 2020, and former employee-elected observer in DNB Bank since 2016.
Background: Education in coaching, relationship management and project management from Akershus University College (now OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University) and BI Norwegian Business School. Joined DNB in 1982.
Other key positions of trust: Deputy head of the Finance Sector Union DNB and head of the department for the Oslo and Akershus region in the Finance Sector Union. Has previously held other key positions of trust including as the Group’s main safety representative and as member of the former supervisory board in DNB.
