International business advisory group established

NIB to draw on business community expertise

In order to tap the knowledge and experience of the international business community, NIB has established an informal Business Advisory Group that will consist of seven high-level individuals representing areas of key importance for the Bank’s member countries. The group will provide new ideas and proposals for the development of NIB’s activities.

The group members, invited in their capacities as highly experienced individuals, will bring their expertise to discussions with NIB’s management of topical issues important for the further development of the Bank’s operations. The group will not be a decision-making body but a forum for analytical discussion. The group will meet two to three times a year.

“In recent years, the Bank revised its mandate and adjusted itself to changes in the global economy. Although NIB stands well equipped to meet these challenges, it is of paramount importance to closely follow developments and react to changes with swift, well-advised decisions. By bringing in external views, we are broadening NIB’s strategic and operational perspective. I am sure that the new advisory group will serve this purpose well and provide NIB’s management with valuable support,” says Johnny Åkerholm, NIB’s CEO and President.

The members of the group are:

Mr Paul Bulteel, former Secretary General of the Union of the Electricity Industry, Belgium
Mr Björn Carlson, Founder, the Foundation for the Baltic Sea, Sweden
Mr Jannik Lindbaek, former chief executive officer of i.a. NIB and IFC, former Chairman of Statoil, Norway
Mrs Bodil Nyboe Andersen, former Governor of the Danish Central Bank, Denmark
Mr Michael Sohlman, Executive Director, the Nobel Foundation, Sweden
Mr Christoffer Taxell, numerous prominent positions in business and politics, Chancellor of Åbo Akademi University, Finland
Mr Linnar Viik, prominent expert on the Internet and former government advisor on e-government, Estonia

NIB is a multilateral financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact
Mr Johnny Åkerholm, President and CEO, Title, at +358 10 618 001 or info (at) nib.int,
Mr Harro Pitkänen, Senior Director and Head of Business Development and Control, at +358 10 618 0246