Thorleif Thorleifsson

Meet our new Board of Directors

An era is over and replaced by another one. Thanks a lot to Thorleif Thorleifsson for founding the company together with Simen and Kristin. Thanks for serving as our Chairman of the Board and for being a co-funder of the company. Thanks for being such a great coach for me (Kristin) after I left Rendra and we gradually decided to make Maritime Optima into a real company. Now Maritime Optima continue her voyage with a new Board of Directors.

We are very pleased to announce our new Board of Directors

Petter Mannsverk Andresen, Chairman of the Board

Petter is the managing partner at Marchfirst. He is educated at Oslo Business School where he earned a Masters’ degree in Business and Administration.

After some years in management consulting with Arkwright he joined Platou Securities as a shipping analyst.

Petter next joined Handelsbanken Markets before he became Head of Corporate finance at Enskilda Securities in Oslo.

With Marchfirst Petter is combining investment activities and financial advisory. He has worked on more than 150 transactions all over the world in various industries and has a vast network in the financial community.

Petter also has extensive experience as a board member in both public and private companies. Today, he especially focuses on trying to add value to scale-up companies.

When he does not work, he spends time with his family up in the mountains skiing or finds himself tidying up the beach at the summer cabin at Nakholmen.

He is a life-long supporter of Arsenal - the true red colors of football. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Kristin Omholt-Jensen,  Founder, Board member and Managing Director

Serial entrepreneur, experienced Board Member and Managing Director. She has a MSc degree in Shipping, Finance, and International Economics, and a Master in Value Creating Board (Norwegian School of Business). Kristin has invested in several early phase tech companies and is an active board member. She is often used as a mentor for other start-ups.

Kristin is born in Kristiansund and has a huge passion for the maritime industry. Her father was a nautical captain and she has 15 years experience from chartering, operation, S&Ps and business development from Fearnley & Eger, I.M Skaugen, Klaveness and Leif Høegh.

In 2008 she initiated the Executive MBA program in shipping, offshore and finance on behalf of Nanyang Business School and Norwegian Business School.

In 2010 she was the head of CHNL and the “First Northern Sea-route project” where MV Nordic Barents loaded iron ore in Kirkenes, went through the North East Passage and discharged in Shanghai. She has  headed a project of export of fresh water from Norway to the Middle East.

Kristin is  a serial entrepreneur and the mother of 4 children , passionate, hardworking, cheerful, good with people and not afraid of being outside her comfort zone.

If any spare time is available, she spend that time on travelling, in her boat or watching her favourite football team Liverpool FC.

Our young developers from NTNU Gjøvik started with me during summer of 2019. Bjarte, Jørgen and Morten have done a fantastic job bringing us this far. We are now adding even more experienced developers, says Omholt-Jensen.

Starting April 1st, Pål-Robert Engnæs took the role of CTO in Maritime Optima. His maritime background is from Kongsberg Maritime and as a partner with Kristin in both Rendra and i-Sea.

We are now five developers and will add an additional experienced person just after summer. A good team, cool technology and an exciting concept creates an attractive development environment, which attracts even more talent. That’s an important part of our road to success, says an enthusiastic Omholt-Jensen.

With the launch approaching, Maritime Optima also expands their customer support team, as well as marketing and sales. Kirsten Rasmussen joined on March 1 and has many years of experience in chartering from Klaveness and other companies.

We are looking for professionals who want to help others succeed. We are in this for the long-term, emphasizing collaboration and good partnerships. We see good things happen when we mix talented people, passion and the pleasure of helping one another to succeed, says Omholt-Jensen.

Petter Hatlem, Board Member

Petter is CEO in Krysse AS and Chairman of a number of companies.

He is a passionate business developer and team builder who has held senior management positions in the shipping industry for more than 20 years. Petters past roles includes such as chartering manager in Wilhelmsen Lines, SVP business dev. in Leif Hoegh & Co, SVP projects and business dev. in Gearbulk (UK) Ltd and CEO in Rever Offshore.

Petter holds first degrees in engineering and in marketing and a MSc (Econ) degree from the London School of Economics.

Inspired by children's engagement in self-organized sports, Petter is also the founder/Chairman of Oslo Skateboardforening (operator of Skur13 & Oslo skatehall) and TVERGA

Ketil Solvik- Olsen, Board Member

Ketil’s background spans 15 years in politics and a long history within transportation.

He worked in Leif Höegh & Co ASA, and has also been involved in aviation, mass transit and automotive companies.

In politics he served as Minister of transportation for 5 years, and 8 years as member of the Norwegian Parliament.

He is currently involved in various start-up tech/mobility companies, focusing on using new tech to improve service and value for both companies and society.

Ketil is an avid cyclist, and on water he prefers to move in a cayak.

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