The Norwegian state lottery operator Norsk Tipping has confirmed the appointment of Thor Gjermund Eriksen as its new CEO.
A career journalist, Eriksen most recently served as Director General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), having held the position since 2013.
Eriksen’s tenure at NRK was not due to conclude until 2025, but he had previously expressed his intention to exit the position this year.
“This is a very exciting and challenging job, and I am very happy to have had this opportunity,” Eriksen commented.
“I look forward to getting to know Norsk Tipping better, the challenges that await and not least everyone who works at Hamar.”
Eriksen is set to start his new role at Norsk Tipping on September 12, while he will step down from his broadcasting role on April 29.
Norsk Tipping began their search for a new CEO in January 2022, when then-incumbent Asne Havenelid signalled her desire to exit a position she had held for six years. Havenelid agreed to remain in her role until a successor was found.
Havenelid first took leadership of Norsk Tipping in 2016 following the departure of former CEO Torbjørn Almlid, and has overseen the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic whilst working to raise funds for national civic and good causes.
“I am very happy to be able to present Thor Gjermund Eriksen as the new CEO of Norsk Tipping,” added Linda Bernander Silseth, Chairman of the Board at Norsk Tipping.
“He has a solid background from the media industry, including as CEO of Amedia and broadcasting manager for NRK for the past nine years.”
Norway’s Storting legislature is due to review proposed amendments to the country’s Gambling Act this year, which would see a strengthening of the Norsk Tipping lotteries and Norsk Rikstoto paramutel betting monopolies.
This would be achieved by further bolstering the powers of the national gambling regulator, Lottslift, granting the authority the ability to penalise unlicensed remote gambling operators.
In recent months, a range of firms have been penalised in Norway, with Kindred subsidiary Trannel International ordered to exit the market in February or face financial penalties.
