As founder and CEO for nearly 15 years it has been clear to me for some time that both Norstat and I need renewal and new perspectives. Norstat continues to go from strength to strength and we have shareholders with clear ambitions to further develop and grow the business. This situation makes it both possible and right to make necessary and well planned changes to Norstat management.  At the same time another central person in management, Pål Listuen, has concluded that this is also the right time for him to seek new challenges.

Norstats new CEO, Are Strøm (40), is a very experienced business leader. He comes to Norstat from Holte Group AS where he is CEO and has worked since 2000 in a variety of management positions. Holte Group is a Group of companies in Norway and Denmark that specialize in securing success in critical projects for their clients, providing advisory services and project management training. Holte Group is also the leading supplier of project software for the Norwegian construction industry with More than 7000 recurring clients. Holte Group works globally with clients from their base in Norway, and has completed major assignments throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Holte Group in 2000, Are worked with oilfield operations and upgrade projects for the world's leading oilfield service company, Schlumberger, mainly in Congo, Nigeria and France. Are  has international experience from seven years based in Africa, Spain and the US, including various client assignments in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as from establishment of local Holte offices in Spain and the UK. He was also stationed for three years in Holte Groups Madrid office, and has good working knowledge of the English and Spanish languages. You can also read a short interview with Are in this edition of Top of Mind.

Neither I nor Pål Listuen will disappear completely from Norstat.  Following a handover period with Are, I will go over to a new role as a Group board member with specific responsibilities going forward.  Pål Listuen for his part will continue as board member in Norstat Sverige AB. After I handover the reins at Norstat I will start as CEO in Onlive Research AS. Pål Listuen will also join Onlive research in September.

After having been so involved in building Norstat from the ground up into the dynamic and international business it is today, I am both excited and somewhat sad when I handover responsibility to Are Strøm. The Board and I have taken our time to find the person we are convinced can take Norstat to new heights. Are Strøm also has experience and competence that we believe will make Norstat an even better partner for our customers. At the same time I am very happy that through my new role as board member I can continue to participate and contribute actively to the ongoing development of the business. I believe that Norstat has a unique opportunity to build on its strengths and continue to develop and grow, as it has done since its inception in Lillehammer in 1997.

Norstat has shareholders and a board of directors with ambitious goals for the future and not least a very competent organization with committed and responsible managers and employees in all the countries where we are represented. The future for Norstat looks very bright indeed, now that we have put the last brick in place, in the form of a new CEO with the ideas and competence to address the challenges ahead. We now mark a new chapter in the Norstat story, not least for the benefit of our customers.

I would also like to wish you a sunny and relaxing summer!

For more information, please contact me on +47 91733359 or mail john@norstat.no or  company chairman Nigel Wilson on  +47 92036363 or mail nigel.wilson@altaria.no