Thor Jørgen Guttormsen Elected President
- The value creation in the maritime industry is crucial for Norway's development. The potential is considerable within the development of knowledge, innovation and research. The industry is exploratory, proactive and future-oriented. Technologically, we belong to the world's elite, and we shall, also in the future, play a major role within environmental technology. We shall recruit the best minds and play a leading part in the global development, the recently elected President of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, Thor Jørgen Guttormsen, says.
Mr. Guttormsen is also of the opinion that the next few years will provide new possibilities in the High North.
- We wish to be pioneers with our expertise when it comes to exploring new areas. Innovation and industrial development in the northern areas are extremely important for the value creation in the whole country. We must recover the resources in harmony with what nature can endure. The possibilities for a responsible and sustainable management must determine when, where and how such a recovery can take place, Mr. Guttormsen says.
Mr. Guttormsen represents a global company and internationally a significant actor. Leif Höegh & Co was the first shipowner company which became member of the global cooperation World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 1992. Today, this council has 200 company members.
- I am proud and humble by the confidence which the General Assembly has shown me in electing me to be the Norwegian Shipowners' Association's leading representative. I look forward to commencing this important task. I look forward to continuing the major work of managing the industry's interests in the best way possible together with the rest of the management and the staff. To us, it is essential to be a positive and constructive force in developing the Norwegian society, and not the least in the many local communities where we operate, Mr. Guttormsen says.
Mr. Guttormsen has worked within the Höegh Group since 1977, except for six years during 1983-89 when he worked for IKO Strategi and for Price Waterhouse. Mr. Guttormsen was CEO in Leif Höegh & Co. from 1992 until 2008 and has also been top manager in the car carrier shipping company Höegh Autoliners.
Today, Mr. Guttormsen serves on the Boards of the operative companies Höegh Autoliners and Höegh LNG in addition to other boards in the Höegh Group. He is also Board Member of ECSA, the European Community Shipowners’ Association.
Stig Remøy from Olympic Shipping in Fosnavåg continues as Vice President.
