Mari Thjømøe, Statoil’s senior vice president for investor relations, has accepted a post as chief financial officer at KLP Forsikring, one of Norway’s largest financial companies.
With the group since 2000, Ms Thjømøe was actively involved in its partial privatisation and flotation on the Oslo and New York stock exchanges.
She has built up the IR function, which currently comprises a total of seven people at the offices in Stavanger and Stamford, Connecticut.
“Working in Statoil during these years has been a unique and incredibly instructive experience,” Ms Thjømøe says.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this phase, and I’m convinced that the listing has made a very positive contribution.”
She adds that the listing has created openness and clarity about the group’s goals and strategy, and attracted much positive attention.
“I believe that many of Statoil's strengths have emerged more clearly and that, through this, we have gained an even stronger position in Norway and in the oil and gas industry.
“The market outlook is good today, and we’re in a strong growth phase. Capital markets have become more significant for us, and our management is continuing to give very high priority to dialogue and contact with our owners.
"As I am leaving the job as head of IR in Statoil I feel certain that the work will be continued in an excellent way by the IR team."
Work is under way to find a new permanent head of the IR function, with Ragnar Bulie acting as senior vice president from 3 October until Ms Thjømøe’s successor is in place.
Currently an IR manager, Mr Bulie has been with Statoil for 16 years and has held various posts both in Norway and other countries.