Statoil chief executive Harald Norvik will remain in post until the group's new board has found a successor.
This conclusion became clear after the board elected by the annual general meeting last week held its first meeting.
Executive vice president Terje Vareberg will also stay in place on the same terms as Mr Norvik.
Both men put their jobs at the disposal of the board after the seven shareholder-elected directors were dismissed last week by acting petroleum and energy minister Anne Enger Lahnstein.