Norse Atlantic founder steps aside for ex-SAS commercial chief

The founder of long-haul low cost carrier Norse Atlantic is being replaced as chief executive.

 

Eivind Roald, a former chef commercial officer at SAS, will assume the role “with immediate effect,” the airline announced.

 

Founder Bjørn Tore Larsen will become chairman of the board of Norse Atlantic and “intends to continue supporting the company and the new CEO from an active role”.

 

Roald brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across aviation, technology and commercial transformation to the role, the airline noted. 

 

Norse Atlantic said: “Roald has extensive knowledge of the aviation industry and played a key role in the commercial turnaround of SAS, where he was instrumental in repositioning the company and strengthening its competitive performance.”

 

Roald said: “I am grateful to the board and to founder Bjørn Tore Larsen for the trust they have placed in me. I look forward to continuing the exciting journey that has already begun. 

 

“Norse holds a unique position with a modern fleet, an attractive product, and a balanced business model with long term charters as well as attractive own scheduled flights.”

 

Larsen added: “I am pleased to welcome such an experienced leader to continue the work we have started at Norse. 

 

“Anyone who has followed SAS’ development knows the extraordinary impact Eivind had as its commercial director. 

 

“We have been searching for someone who understands the aviation industry, knows how to commercialise businesses, and brings technological insight - combined with the ability to be a strong team-leader and builder. We found exactly that in Eivind Roald.”

 

The carrier was founded by Larsen in 2021 with the first flight operating a year later. It operates a fleet of 338-passenger Boeing 787 Dreamliners in a two-class configuration including a schedule from Gatwick and aircraft leased out to other airlines such as India’s IndiGo.