A Norwegian investment fund for developing countries, Norfund, has appointed Mr Erik Sandersen as its new chief executive, succeeding Mr Tellef Thorleifsson, who in January announced that he would step down after over seven years in the position.
The appointee, who assumes office on July 1, 2026, will be responsible for Norfund’s three mandates: the original development mandate from 1997, aimed at reducing poverty through job creation in developing countries; the Climate Investment Fund, which Norfund has managed since 2022; and the Ukraine Fund, established in December 2024.
A statement disclosed that Mr Sandersen is armed with 25 years of experience from the financial sector and has, for the past decade, headed Norfund’s Financial Inclusion department.
He joined Norfund in 2014 as Investment Director in the Financial Inclusion department, which invests in banks, microfinance and fintech, with a particular aim of contributing to job creation in small and medium-sized enterprises.
Since 2016, he has headed the department, and from 2024, he has also led the work on the Ukraine Fund. Over a number of years, he has represented Norfund on the boards of, among others, Arise, an investment company for banks in Africa, and Abler Nordic, which invests in microfinance in Africa and Asia.
The chairman of the Norfund board, Ms Olaug Svarva, said Mr Sandersen “has strong investment expertise, in-depth knowledge of Norfund’s work and a strong commitment to the fund’s mission.”
Reacting to his appointment, Mr Sandersen described Norfund’s profitable investments as “an effective tool for development – whether it is about creating jobs in low-income countries, avoiding emissions in emerging economies or contributing to reconstruction in Ukraine.”
“The strong results Norfund delivers are based on the efforts of a highly skilled and diverse staff of 152 employees from 33 nationalities, and I look forward to working closely with them to further develop Norfund as a leading purpose-driven investment company,” he added.
Mr Sandersen said he looks “forward to leading the organisation going forward at a time when access to the capital and expertise we can offer is becoming increasingly important.”