A senior management reshuffle at low cost carrier Norwegian has seen new finance and IT chiefs appointed.
Geir Karlsen has been named as new chief financial officer from April 3, moving from a similar position at London-based shipping company Navig8 Group.
The airline’s acting chief financial officer since last July, Tore Østby, is taking up a new role as executive vice president strategic development.
Kurt Simonsen is joining the airline as chief information officer after 17 years as a partner and co-owner of consulting company Infocom Group.
Karlsen said: “I look forward to becoming a part of the top management at one of Norway’s most international growth companies and to take part in its ambitious growth plans.
“Norwegian has become an internationally renowned airline with an existing fleet of more than 140 aircraft and a pending order of more than an additional 200.
“Aviation is characterised by strong competition, and I hope and believe that my background and experience will contribute to further developing the company.”
Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos said: “I’m very pleased that Geir Karlsen will be a part of our team.
“A major part of his professional experience clearly resembles the airline industry, where lease agreements and financing of major transactions are key to succeed.
“At the same time, he has extensive management experience from major international companies that is very important to enable Norwegian’s global growth.”
He added: “IT is an important and integral part of Norwegian’s business and strategy, and we shall continuously develop the best solutions for our customers while simultaneously making our operations more efficient and reducing our cost.
“I am very pleased that Kurt Simonsen will be a part of Norwegian’s management team.”
Simonsen said: “Norwegian is a company where IT is key to the operation and with its ambitious growth plans in an increasingly digitalised world, I look forward to bringing my experience to the table and contribute to making the company realise its business strategy.”