Key Points:
- Eivind Roald appointed CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways
- Founder Bjørn Tore Larsen moves to the Chairman role
- Airline refocuses strategy with ACMI expansion and IndiGo partnership
Norse Atlantic Airways announced a leadership transition as its board appointed Eivind Roald as the airline’s new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds founder Bjørn Tore Larsen, who will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.
A Leader With Deep Experience in Transformation
Roald brings extensive experience from both the technology and aviation sectors. His career includes senior roles at Accenture, Hewlett-Packard, and Norwegian tech investment firm QNTM. In the aviation industry, he served as Chief Commercial Officer and later Executive Vice President for Growth at Scandinavian Airlines, where he contributed to a significant commercial and financial turnaround.
Before joining Norse Atlantic, Roald led CRST Advisory, a firm specialising in business transformation using big data and artificial intelligence. This background aligns with the airline’s current focus on operational restructuring and strategic repositioning.
Norse Atlantic Airways has been reshaping its business model after several years of financial pressure. Since 2024, the airline has streamlined its route network to concentrate on a smaller number of core markets. This focus has improved load factors and supported a return toward profitability.
The airline has also expanded into the ACMI sector, supplying aircraft and crew to other carriers. A notable partnership with IndiGo has seen Norse Atlantic lease half of its Boeing 787 fleet to support the Indian airline’s rapid growth in Europe.
Founder Moves to Board Leadership
With the leadership change, founder Larsen transitions from CEO to Chairman, maintaining close involvement in guiding the airline’s long-term direction. The appointment of Roald marks a new chapter as the company continues its efforts to refine its strategy, strengthen financial performance, and position itself more competitively in long-haul markets.
For business leaders and entrepreneurs, the transition reflects a broader trend: emerging companies often shift from founder-led management to executives with turnaround and scaling experience as operations mature and strategic demands evolve.
