Executive Team

Kjetil Houg is responsible for the management of Government Pension Fund Norway and joined Folketrygdfondet as Chief Executive Officer on 1 September 2018. 

Previously, he was Chief Investment Officer at Oslo Pensjonsforsikring, Chief Economist at Alfred Berg/ABN Amro Bank and at Folketrygdfondet, in addition to Political Advisor at the Norwegian Parliament. 

Houg holds a degree in social economics from the University of Oslo. He has also served on various board of directors, board of representatives, and nomination committees of major Norwegian companies.

Karl Mathisen has been Chief Investment Officer Equities  since 2023. Karl began as a portfolio manager in Folketrygdfondet in 2019. Previously, he has worked as a portfolio manager in Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) in London, Oslo and New York and as senior adviser in Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

Karl Mathisen holds a master’s degree in business and administration from BI Norwegian Business School, specialising in finance and accounting. 

Jørgen Krog Sæbø has worked for Folketrygdfondet since 2007, initially as a financial analyst in the operations department. He then moved into portfolio management, first as a fixed income portfolio manager and later as chief treasurer. Krog Sæbø holds a master’s degree from the Norwegian School of Economics (2007), is authorised as a fixed income analyst by the Norwegian Society of Financial Analysts (2010), is an Certified European Financial Analyst by the Norwegian School of Economics (2016), has completed the Advanced Credit Risk Analysis Program by the Norwegian School of Economics (2017), and has an MBA in finance from the Norwegian School of Economics (2017).

Jørn Nilsen joined Folketrygdfondet in 1997, having previously worked as a higher executive officer at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and as a scholarship holder at the Norwegian School of Economics. Jørn Nilsen holds a Master of Science degree (siviløkonom HAE) from the Norwegian School of Economics and Certified European Financial Analyst (Norwegian School of Economics).

Jørn Terje Krekling joined Folketrygdfondet i 2003, having previously worked as an equity manager at Kreditkassen aktiv forvaltning and Nordeafondene. Jørn Terje Krekling holds an economics degree from the Norwegian School of Economics and an MBA from Bond University. He is also an authorised portfolio manager certified by the Norwegian Society of Financial Analysts.

Lisbeth Johansen Kvam joined Folketrygdfondet in 1996. Her previous positions include those of adviser with the City of Oslo and auditor at the Office of the Auditor General of Norway. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business and Economics from Bodø Graduate School of Business and is an authorised portfolio manager (Norwegian Society of Financial Analysts) . Lisbeth Johansen Kvam has studied tourism economics at Sogn og Fjordane University College and has completed the Management programme in teamwork and management at BI Norwegian Business School.

Christina Stray has worked for Folketrygdfondet since 2009. Previously, she worked for Oslo Børs ASA as head of the Prospectus and Transactions Department. Before that, she worked in Oslo Børs ASA’s legal department, and for the law firm Wiersholm, Mellbye & Bech. Christina Stray graduated from the University of Oslo with a law degree in 1992, and holds a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she studied from 1993 to 1994.

Aleksander Lee Olsen started as the Chief Communications Officer at Folketrygdfondet in 2023. Previously, he served as the Global Press Officer at Freyr Battery, Nordic Communications Director at Colliers, advisor in the CEO Office at Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), and consultant in Geelmuyden Kiese's team for financial communication. Aleksander Lee Olsen holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and is certified for board work.

Karianne Kirstistuen joined Folketrygdfondet in 2022.Previously, she worked as senior HR Business Partner in TietoEvry. Before that, she worked in Santander Consumer Bank in a similar role, as well as 12 years as a manager for entities with 15-60 employees in Oslo muncipality in the education sector. She holds a master’s degree in organizational development and management from NTNU, a bachelor in Preschool Education from OsloMet and has also studied labor law at the University of South-Eastern Norway.