Dec 21, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Sven Ombudstvedt, former CFO and senior vice president of Yara International and head of corporate strategy at Norsk Hydro ASA, has been named new chief executive of Norske Skog. He will begin in January 2010. Ombudstvedt succeeds Christian Rynning-Tønnesen, who will leave Norske Skog and take over as head of Statkraft, the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. “The Board has considered several highly-qualified candidates, and we are convinced that we have found the best person to take over as chief executive of Norske Skog,” says Eivind Reiten, Chairman of the Board. “Sven Ombudstvedt has held operational and strategic management positions with Yara and Hydro, and therefore has a particularly relevant experience from strategic processes and restructuring of Norway-based listed, industrial companies with substantial international activities,” Reiten says. “We are also pleased that he is able to begin work almost immediately. Norske Skog faces tough challenges, and the improvement processes led by Christian Rynning-Tønnesen in an outstanding manner must continue at full speed.” ”I look forward to gaining deeper insight into Norske Skog’s strategy, operations and organisation. As I see it, this is one of the most interesting and challenging international management positions in Norway,” says Ombudstvedt.