Our new CEO: Tore Hanses?tre

On?June 1, Tore Hanses?tre assumed the?role?of?CEO of Norske Skog.?Having worked?at Norske Skog since 2009, the new CEO knows the group well. In fact, his?track record is even longer, as he worked summers at Norske Skog Saugbrugs while?he was a student at?the?Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

“I will hit the ground running.?I know Norske Skog?from the inside, and I have?been involved in setting the strategy we have followed over the past years.?I look forward to continuing to work closely with so many competent employees throughout the organization. Our employees are definitely an asset as we expand our operations to new markets,” says Tore Hanses?tre.

Hanses?tre has held?several?positions within strategy and operations. For?the past years,?he has been in charge of strategic projects, including the conversion of machines from publication paper to recycled containerboard for the packaging market at the mills in Bruck, Austria, and Golbey, France.

“It feels great that the intention we announced back?in 2020, is now actually becoming a reality, as Bruck is now producing packaging paper and the conversion work at Golbey PM1 is progressing well.?While this market has dipped after the corona-fueled online shopping boom, we firmly believe?that the underlying trend is positive, driven by online shopping and?a shift from fossil-based plastic to renewable containerboard,” says Hanses?tre.

While Norske Skog is entering new?growth?markets, the bulk of the group’s revenue still comes from publication paper.?

“There is still a substantial market for publication paper,?much bigger?than?many predicted some years ago. We will be a?competitive supplier as long as there is a meaningful market, and this intention is underlined by our investment in a new?thermo-mechanical production line?at Norske Skog Skogn?in Norway,”?Hanses?tre says.

Beyond?containerboard and publication paper, Norske Skog is working on a number of?growth?projects within energy and?fibre.?

“I see great potential in building additional businesses related to our mills and the supply chain we are a part of.?Some of this, such as the?Bruck?waste-to-energy facility?providing new revenues and fossil-free energy, is already?operational. Other projects are earlier stage?but hold exciting potential for the future,” says Hanses?tre.

The announcement?in late April?that?Hanses?tre would assume the CEO role coincided with a dramatic?landslide severely damaging the?PM6 paper machine at the?Norske Skog Saugbrugs mill in Halden, Norway.

“Obviously, this was a shock. The main thing?is?that,?luckily,?no one was harmed.?It takes time to secure the area and fully assess the damage and rebuild needs, so?we can’t give details or a timeline for PM6 yet. Financially, this will be an insurance case. In the meantime, PM4 is continuing to produce SC magazine paper,”?he says.

“We’re a strong team, and?we will handle this, as we have handled other?hurdles over the years, putting Norske Skog in the strong position?the company?is in today,” he concludes.

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