Partners

Jan-Erik Larsen

Professional experience:
2008-2009: State Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister
2005–2008: Editor-in-chief and managing director of the local newspaper Tidens Krav in Kristiansund
2004–2005: Independent communication consultant
2003–2004: Corporate editor in the media group A-pressen
2001–2003: Special advisor for the Labour Party parliamentary group
2000–2001: State Secretary and press spokesman in the Office of the Prime Minister
1998–2000: Corporate editor in the media group A-pressen
1993–1998: Corporate editor and managing director of Telemarksavisa
1990–1993: Editor and manager in Tidens Krav
1981–1990: Journalist and news editor in several newspapers, including Nordmørsposten, Arbeider-Avisa and Dagbladet

Education:
Undergraduate studies in history (1997), sociology, media and communication studies and Spanish language and culture.

Please contact Jan-Erik Larsen on:
Tel + 47 995 41 967
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Bjørn Richard Johansen

Senior advisor and founder of FIRST HOUSE:
Bjørn Richard Johansen is one of Norway’s most experienced advisors within strategic management, Norwegian and international media relations, strategic positioning, governmental affairs and corporate communication.

Mr. Johansen was born in 1965 in Skien in county Telemark, and currently lives in Bærum.

Professional experience:

2008–2009: Co-ordinator for the crisis management unit in Iceland, which was formed to handle the financial collapse that hit the republic in October 2008. He reported to the Prime Minister’s Office in Iceland.
2005-2008: Global Director of Corporate Communication in Glitnir, responsible for activities in 14 countries. Johansen also worked for SpareBank 1 and BN Bank, where he worked as strategic advisor and director of corporate communiation in 2009
2001–2005: Deputy Managing Director in Burson-Marsteller
1997–2001: Director of Communication in Hakon Gruppen
1992–1997: Advisor in Burson-Marsteller
1989–1992: Journalist in NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation)
1986–1987: Political secretary in the Conservative Party and the Norwegian Young Conservatives

Other:

• Member of the board of the Norwegian Association of Communication Professionals, which currently has approx. 3300 members.
• Member of the board of the Norwegian Public Relations Consultants Association (NPRCA) . NPRCA is member of ICCO - International Communications Conculancy Organisation
• Deputy head of the Norwegian Army’s Association of Information Officers from 1999. Head of the association from 1996-1999.

Education:

• Degree in economics and business administration from the Norwegian School of Management (BI) and the University of Uppsala
• The Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC)
• The Norwegian Army’s College

Please contact Bjørn Richard Johansen on:
Tel + 47 - 47 800 100
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Kari Holm Hejna

Kari Holm Hejna is a communication advisor with particular focus on corporate communication, investor relations and financial market communication. She has been advisor in several IPO’s mergers and acquisitions. She has extensive managerial experience within economics, administration and IR/finance.

Kari was born in 1963, and she is from Spydeberg and currently lives in Bærum

Professional Experience:

2006-2009: Partner, manager and advisor in the advisory firm MonsenHejna, with main focus on corporate communication, investor relations and financial markets communication.
2000-2006: Advisor and managing director in the PR agency GCI MMonsen
1996-1999: Corporate controller, chief accountant and finally CFO in Gresvig ASA
1988-1996: Finance manager and managing director of Moore Paragon Norge AS
1987-1988: Controller in Gilde Norge.

Education:
- Financial studies at Østfold University College
- Studies at the Norwegian School of Management (BI)

Leif Monsen

Leif Monsen is partner/chairman of the board and advisor in FIRST HOUSE.

Leif Monsen is one of the industry’s most experienced strategic communication advisors. He has served as advisor in a number of IPO's, M&A's and other transactions. He also has extensive experience as an advisor within reputation management, crisis and issues management, public affairs and media relations through his 20 years as an entrepreneur and chairman of the board in his advisory companies.

Prior to establishing his own company in 1989, Monsen was vice president for public affairs with Storebrand insurance group for more than five years, and he served as vice president for public affairs and corporate marketing and marketing activities at Bergen Bank for four years. He started his career as a journalist in Bergens Tidende, the leading daily in Norway’s second largest city, for six years.
Leif Monsen was born in 1950 and he currently lives in Oslo and Arendal

Please contact Leif Monsen on:
Tel + 47 90 87 70 22
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Per Bjørkum

Partner and director of financial communication

Per Bjørkum has experience from all aspects of financial communication, as a journalist and editor (Reuters), as a financial analyst (Kreditkassen and Norse) ans as director of communication in NetCom. Since 2000 he has worked as an advisor, and was the manager of his own communication advisory company Trolltind Kommunikasjon from 2003-2009.

Bjørkum was born in Oslo in 1964.

Professional experience:

2003-2009: Entrepreneur, managing director and advisor in Trolltind Kommunikasjon
2000-2003: Director of communication in GCI Monsen
1996-2000: Director of communication in NetCom, and contributed to making the company one of Norway’s leading providers within IT and communications solutions. During his tenure in NetCom, Mr. Bjørkum was twice voted ”Communication manager of the year” by Norwegian journalists.
1992-1996: Journalist and editor in Reuters Norge
1990-1992: Financial analyst in Norse Securities
1989-1990: Financial analyst in Kreditkassen

Please contact Per Bjørkum on:
Tel +47 92 25 57 77
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Ketil Lindseth

Ketil Lindseth is a former State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Care Services.
Mr. Lindseth was born in 1977 in Steinkjær in Nord-Trøndelag county, and he currently lives in Oslo.

Professional experience:
2008-2009: Political advisor in the Ministry of Health and Care Services
2007-2008: Political advisor in the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion
2007-2007: Senior advisor JKL Group
2004-2006: Director of Communication and Social Responsibility in the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF)
2002-2004: Independent communication consultant
2000-2002: Political advisor to the Norwegian Labour Party’s Parliamentary group

Education:
1999-2000: Undergraduate studies in media science at NTNU
1997-1999: Undergraduate studies in sociology at Nord-Trøndelag University College

Political experience:
1999 2004: Member of the county council of Nord-Trøndelag
1999-2001: Member of the board of the Norwegian Labour Youth (AUF)
1997-1999: Leader of AUF in Nord-Trøndelag
1996-1997: Secretary of AUF in Nord-Trøndelag

Bjarne Håkon Hanssen

Bjarne Håkon Hanssen is former Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services and Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion.
Mr. Hansen was born in 1962 in Bangsund near Namsos in county Nord-Trøndelag, and he currently lives in Oslo.

Political assignments:
2008-2009 Minister of Health and Care Services
2005-2008: Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion
2003-2005: Head of the Labour Party’s Working Group for European Debate
2001-2005: Member of the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) representing the county of Nord-Trøndelag
2001-2005: Member of the Labour Party’s Leading Group
2000-2001: Minister of Agriculture
1997-2001: Member of the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) representing the county of Nord-Trøndelag
1995-1997: Chairman of the Nord-Trøndelag County Council
1989-1993: Alternate member of the Storting, Nord-Trøndelag
1980-1982: Executive secretary, Nord-Trøndelag Labour Youth League

Memberships in Stortinget’s committees and deletagions:
2001-2005: The Standing Committe on Social Affairs
1997-2001: The Election Committee
1997-2001: The Standing Committee on Business and Industry

Professonal career:
1989-1991: Municipal executive in Fosnes municipality
1987-1989: Manager of Klingenbergheimen Centre for Mentally Disabled

Education:
1985: Teaching degree from Levanger College of Education

The quarantine committee has instructed Bjarne Håkon Hansen not to work on any health and care service cases for an additional six months, until 20 October 2010.

Please contact Mr Bjarne Håkon Hansen on:
Telephone: 916 73 500
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Per Høiby

Per Høiby has been managing director of JKL in Oslo, advisor to two Ministers of Defence and press contact for the Royal Army.

Mr. Høiby has an extensive network and broad experience from various positions within communication and politics, and solid managerial experience. He has been an advisor crisis communication and strategic communication.

Per Høiby was born in Kristiansand in 1962 , and he currently lives in Oslo.

Professional Experience:

2006–2009: Managing Director and communication advisor in JKL Oslo. From January 2008 he has also been parner in the Nordic Management Group of JKL Group
2004-2006: Military advisor to Ministers of Defence Kristin Krohn Devold (the Conservative Party) and Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen (Labour).
2000-2001: Press contact for the Headquarters Defence Command Norway and the Royal Army Service Corps for four years. His military rank is Captain.

Education:

His education includes studies in strategy, management, finance and logistics from The Royal Norwegian Naval Academy and the Royal Army Staff College etc.

Please contact Per Høiby on:
Tel : 994 55 225  
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Tor Mikkel Wara

Senior Advisor and partner

Tor Mikkel Wara has many years’ experience as communications advisor in his own company Wara Consulting, and has previously been partner in Geelmuyden.Kiese and Madland & Wara. He was a Member of the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) from 1989 to 1993, and he has been treasury spokesman and member of Oslo City Council for the Progress Party. Tor Mikkel Wara is member of the Board of Directors at Folketrygdfondet, The Governmental Pension Fund Norway.

Please contact Mr. Wara on:
Tel: + 47 91 70 21 91
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Other Employees

Geir Helljesen

Senior Advisor

Geir Helljesen previously worked in the political department of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), and is particultarly known as an expert commentator and analyst during local and general elections. He retired after the general election in September 2009. Mr. Helljesen started in the daily news programme Dagsrevyen in 1968, and served as member of NRK’s Board of Directors as employee representative from 1990 to 2008.  Mr. Helljesen was awarded the honorary Gullruten prize (annual Norwegian TV awards) in 2008 for his long career as a journalist. In 2005 he was awarded the “Journalist of the year” in NRK. On 11 November 2009 he was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (Knight, first class).

Please contact Mr. Geir Helljesen on:
Tel: + 47 90 55 13 86
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Per Terje Vold

Senior Advisor

Per Terje Vold recently resigned from the position as managing director of the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF), and is currently associate senior advisor in First House. Vold has been managing director of OLF the past six years, and before that he was managing director of the Norwegian Processing Industry Association for six years. In January 2010, Mr. Vold was awarded the Norwegian Petroleum Society’s honorary prize at the Annual Petroleum Policy Seminar.

Please contact Per Terje Vold on:
Tel: + 47 91 61 77 26
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Christine Eiken

Advisor

Christine Eiken has been an advisor for IT companies, retail companies and banks and financial institutions. She has also worked for several media, including the Norwegian daily Dagsavisen.

She was born in Oslo in 1985.

Professional Experience:

2008-2009: Advisor in Trolltind Kommunikasjon
2007-2008: Communication consultant in the communication department of the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs.

Education:

2004-2007: Business journalism, Norwegian School og Management (BI)

Please contact Christine Eiken on:
Tel. +47 41 69 17 16
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Kristin D. Ebbesen

Project Manager

Kristin D. Ebbesen has 20 years’ experience from product development, branding and market communication, in addition to management, accounting and finance.

She was born in Oslo in 1962.

Professional Experience:

2006–2009: Project manager and office manager in MonsenHejna
2004–2006: Project manager and office manager in GCI Monsen
1999–2004: Managing director in Donghia
1996–2000: Administrative executive in the family business Niels Ebbesen & Co
1994–1996: Office Manager in Scan Fact
1990–1994: Marketing consultant in Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
1987–1990: Product manager in Nestlé Norge
1984–1987: Product secretary in DnC

Education:

• Master of Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Management (BI)

Please contact Kristin D. Ebbesen on:
Tel +47 91 16 45 66
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Stine Vikesland

Advisor

Stine Vikesland has been a journalist and communication advisor in Norway and the USA. She has worked with financial institutions, IT companies and retail businesses.

She was born in Oslo in 1976 and holds both Norwegian and US citizenships.

Professional Experience:

2003-2009: Advisor in Trolltind Kommunikasjon
2006–2007: Entrepreneur and editor of the Balanse magazine, for women in the financial sector 2004: Project manager in the PR agency Gambit Hill & Knowlton
2003: Communication consultant in Finance Norway (FNH)
1999–2000: Journalist and presenter in local and regional media in Norway and the USA

Education:

• Business law, University in Oslo
• Master of Science in Strategy and International Business, Norwegian School of Management (BI)
  Master Thesis: Analysis of corporate clusters in five international maritime industries
• Bachelor i Communication and Marketing, California Lutheran University, CA, USA
• Exchange student at Goldsmiths University of London, Storbritannia

Please contact Stine Vikesland on:
Tel +47 92 42 15 33
E-mail: sv@firsthouse.as

Terje Stachink Hansen

Advisor

Mr. Stachink Hansen has 15 years’ experience within corporate communication, and has recently assisted companies within financial services, ICT and the oil/gas sector.

He was born in Porsgrunn in 1971 and currently lives in Oslo.

Professional Experience:

2004-2009: Advisor in Trolltind Kommunikasjon
2002–2004: Marketing manager in Ernst & Young
2001–2002: Country Marketing Manager in Arthur Andersen
1999–2001: Communication advisor in Createurene Reklamebyrå
1999–1999: Lecturer at BI Skedsmo
1996–1999: Marketing manager for the Norwegian School of Management (BI)
1994–1996: Lecturer and employee in the Norwegian Red Cross

Education:

• Management Program in Business Process Management at the Norwegian School of Management (BI)
• Management Program in Market Communication at the Norwegian School of Management (BI)
• Graduate Economist from the Norwegian School of Management (BI Telemark)

Please contact Terje Stachink Hansen on:
Tel +47 99 21 67 85
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Steinar Flaa

Senior Advisor

Steinar Flaa has more than ten years’ experience from journalism and corporate communication advisory, with emphasis on corporate communication and media science.

He was born in 1972 and grew up in Stokke in Vestfold county. He currently lives in Oslo.

Professional Experience:

2006-2009: Communication advisor and partner in MonsenHejna
2003–2006: Communication advisor in GCI Monsen
2000–2003: Communication advisor in JKL Woldsdal
1998–1999: Journalist in dn.no
1991–1997: Journalist in Tønsbergs Blad andVårt Land

Education:

• Cand.oecon from the University in Oslo
• Journalist education from Gimlekollen Mediesenter

Please contact Steinar Flaa on:
Tel + 47 92 05 57 44
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