Effective January 1, 2015, Hydro's corporate board will have four new executive vice-presidents (VPE): Kjetil Ebbesberg, new VPE in the Rolled Products business area; Hanne Simensen, new People & amp; SSM (Health, Safety and Environment), Anne-Lene Midseim, VPE of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) & amp; Legal Advisory, and Inger Sethov, VPE of Communication & amp; Public Relations.

”The global aluminum market changes rapidly. The winner of this industry will be the leader in competence, innovation and technology within a predictable framework of compliance and responsibility. Hydro's new corporate board is the answer to a new future in aluminum, ensuring that Hydro takes a leading position in the industry and strengthening its ability to create value, ”says Hydro CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg.

Ebbesberg will lead to Rolled Products

Kjetil Ebbesberg, 43, current director of Hydro's rolling mill in Holmestrand (Norway) and former VPE of Metal Markets, will take over as director of the Rolled Products business area.

Ebbesberg started working at Hydro in 1996. His training includes a master's degree in business economics from the Norwegian University of Economics and Administration (NHH). Between 2007 and 2009, he served as chief financial officer for retail company Coop, later returning to Hydro to head the Metal Markets division. As of 2012, Ebbesberg has been the director of Hydro's rolling mill in Holmstrand, acquiring greater operational competence every day, to complement his extensive experience in the commercial area.

“It is a great satisfaction for us to have Kjetil Ebbesberg as the new director of Produtos Laminados, combining his solid commercial competence & nbsp; and operational to advance our high quality portfolio and to strengthen our focus on the customer throughout this part of our value chain, ”says Brandtzæg.

Oliver Bell, who has been a VPE at Produtos Laminados since 2007, will leave Hydro after 29 years with the company, to pursue other opportunities.

“Bell has been an important contributor to Hydro's strategic agenda for many years. He did an excellent job of positioning Hydro in the European and global aluminum industry, especially in the customer-oriented downstream market. I'm sorry that he wants to leave Hydro and I wish him the best for the future, ”says Brandtzæg.

Strengthening personnel functions

In order to narrow the focus on the critical support functions for Hydro's business, the area of corporate personnel (Corporate Staffs) will be reorganized and divided into two functions: People & amp; SSM and RSE & amp; Legal Advice. Communication & amp; Public Relations will be included on the board, due to the growing importance of global conditions and stakeholder management.

Hanne Simensen, 47 years old and former Human Resources manager in the Energy business area, serves as head of Energy Markets at Hydro, but will take over as People & amp; SSM, while Anne-Lene Midseim, 46, current general secretary of the company and former chief of staff for the Bauxite & amp; Alumina in Brazil, will assume responsibility for CSR and Legal Advisory; the current senior vice president of Communication & amp; Public Relations, 44-year-old Inger Sethov will continue to be head of the area as a VPE and board member.

“These support functions are critical to developing our business and ensuring Hydro’s ability to fully realize the potential of its strong platform,” says Brandtzæg.

“Our organization, our competence base and our leaders demand continuous development, to ensure that our ambitions are in line with our talent. Likewise, our ability to ensure competitive conditions and our ability to manage stakeholders are key factors wherever we operate in the world, ”he explains.

Wenche Agerup, current general legal counsel and People's VPE & amp; Organization, SSM, CSR and Compliance, will leave the company after 15 years at Hydro.

“I am so sorry that Agerup left the board and Hydro. She did an exceptional job & nbsp; for the company in a series of leadership positions with great operational and commercial responsibilities, having been the general counsel and VPE of Corporate Staffs for the past five years. Agerup led transformational processes and was an active part of Hydro's management strategy, as well as having this fundamental role in the development of the new People Strategy and in the improvement of Hydro's compliance system ”, says Brandtzæg.

After the changes, Hydro's corporate board will consist of:

Svein Richard Brandtzæg & nbsp; Executive President

Hilde Merete Aasheim & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE (Executive Vice President), Primary Metal
Kjetil Ebbesberg & nbsp; & nbsp; & Nbsp; VPE, Rolled Products
Alberto Fabrini & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE, Bauxite & amp; Alumina
Eivind Kallevik & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE and chief financial officer
Anne-Lene Midseim & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE, RSE & amp; General legal advisor
Arvid Moss & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE, Energy & Corporate Business Development
Inger Sethov & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE, Communication & amp; Public Relations & nbsp;
Hanne Simensen & nbsp; & nbsp; VPE, People & amp; SSM