Management - OKEA

Management

Our competent management team has significant experience developing oil companies on the NCS. Their involved leadership provides clear direction towards meeting our company objectives and vision

Svein J. Liknes

CEO

Svein J. Liknes has more than 25 years' experience from the oil and offshore industry. He served in Aker Energy both as acting CEO and Head of Operations. Liknes also has experience as SVP Operations & Asset Development in Aker BP. Mr. Liknes has background from the Norwegian Armed Forces and studied Nautical Science at the University of Stavanger and Haugesund.

Birte Norheim

CFO

Birte Norheim has more than 15 years' experience from the oil and gas sector. Prior to joining OKEA, she has held various managerial and financial positions within the sector, including as CEO for Njord Gas Infrastructure AS and Vice President Finance for Sevan Marine ASA. Birte holds a Master of Applied Finance from Queensland University of Technology.

Børge Nerland

SVP Drilling & Wells

Børge spent more than a decade working at BP, gaining international experience from several parts of the world including the UK, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Trinidad, Algeria and Alaska. He has experience in onshore and offshore drilling and field developments. He joined Wintershall Norge in 2010, later becoming Vice President Production for Wintershall Dea. He has an MSc in Petroleum Engineering from the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim.

Knut Gjertsen

SVP Projects and Technology

Knut Gjertsen has thirty-five years’ experience from Multiconsult, Norwegian Contractors, Aker, Kværner and Statoil/Equinor. Last positions in Equinor was Head of the Snøhvit/Hammerfest LNG operations and the Johan Castberg Project. He holds a master degree in engineering.

Ida Ianssen Lundh

SVP Subsurface

Ida Ianssen Lundh has more than 11 years of experience within the oil and gas sector from Det norske oljeselskap and national and international positions within Shell, before joining OKEA in 2015. In OKEA she has held the positions VP Drilling & Wells and VP Business Development, working within the merger and acquisition space. She holds a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering from NTNU and Colorado School of Mines.

Espen Myhra

SVP Business Development & Commercial

Espen Myhra has close to 20 years’ experience within the oil and gas sector. Before joining OKEA in 2015 Espen held the position as Deputy Director General and Head of the Exploration Section in the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Espen has also been Energy counselor at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington DC and Ottawa. In OKEA Espen has experience as VP Business Development and VP Commercial.

Tor Bjerkestrand

SVP Operations

Tor Bjerkestrand has thirty years’ experience at Aker Engineering, Phillips Petroleum, Kværner Oil & Gas, Petroleum Development Oman and Shell. Experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & gas industry both nationally and internationally. Holds a Master of Science in Engineering.

Kjersti Hovdal

SVP Business Performance

Kjersti Hovdal has around 20 years’ experience from various leadership positions within finance in OKEA, Aker BP/Det norske oljeselskap/Pertra. She started her career working as an auditor and advisor for Ernst & Young. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and auditing.

Dag Eggan

SVP Special Projects

Dag Eggan has more than 25 years' experience from the oil and offshore industry. He was co-founder and partner of PIER Offshore Management Services, and has experience from several senior management positions, including Quality Risk Manager in the Mobile Newbuilds Group in Statoil and VP QSHE in Ocean Rig, Sevan Drilling and Skeie Drilling & Production. Holds a Master of Science in Environmental & Resource Engineering.

Marit Moen Vik-Langlie

VP Legal

Marit Moen Vik-Langlie has 10+ years of experience with commercial and contracts law, and holds a Master of Law from the University of Oslo. She came to OKEA in 2016 from Advokatfirmaet Steenstrup Stordrange DA (Sands).

Bente W. Nordeide

VP People & Organisation

Bente Nordeide has 20 years’ experience from the «people side» of the oil and gas industry and has worked both in the upstream and downstream business. She started as a graduate in Shell, and has held various positions in HR, both internationally and in Norway. Ms Nordeide holds a Master in Organisational Psychology, and her experience includes transition processes, negotiations, offshore agreements, leadership development, HR policies and pensions.