Åsne Havnelid to leave Norsk Tipping

Åsne Havnelid has announced her resignation after six years as CEO of the Norwegian gaming operator.

Norway.- Åsne Havnelid has resigned as chief executive of the Norwegian gaming monopoly Norsk Tipping after six years. She will remain in the role until a successor is named.

Norsk Tipping said Havnelid, who was previously secretary general of the Norwegian Red Cross, had helped bolster Norway’s state-controlled gambling model during her six-year tenure.

Norsk Tipping chair Linda Bernander Silseth said: “Åsne Havnelid is a wise, goal-oriented and value-based leader who, through her employees, has delivered fantastic results for Norsk Tipping.

“She has secured and strengthened the company’s important social mission, and I want to thank her on behalf of the board for the impressive job she has done.

“Being a responsible gaming provider is the foremost and most important task, and Havnelid has made Norsk Tipping one of the world’s best in this area. Efficiency is better than ever, with a stable profit in 2021.”

Havnelid has said she intends to take some time to consider future career options. She has previously led the Norges Toppidrettsgymnas education group and she was director of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011.

Norsk Tipping reported revenue of NOK 42.6bn (€4.22bn) in 2020, a rise of 31.3 per cent from 2016, when Havnelid joined the company.

Havnelid said: “It has been a privilege to lead Norsk Tipping with so many fantastically skilled and committed employees. I have learned a lot and been allowed to help develop the company further in a very exciting time.”

Norway continues to maintain a dual monopoly on its licensed gambling market, run by the state-controlled Norsk Tipping and the racing-focused Norsk Rikstoto. It has promised tougher action on offshore operators.

In September, Norway submitted plans for the DNS-blocking of gambling sites to the European Commission (EC). The plans propose an amendment to be included in Norway’s new Gambling Act, which unified previously separate legislation.