Egil Matsen appointed new President of BI
26 January 2026The Board of BI Norwegian Business School has appointed Egil Matsen as President for the 2026–2030 term. Matsen comes from a position as CEO of Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Matsen brings extensive leadership experience from academia, finance, and public administration. His previous roles include Professor and Head of Department at NTNU and Deputy Governor of Norges Bank.
BI’s Chair of the Board Egil Hogna emphasizes Matsen’s strong interpersonal skills and broad experience across sectors as vital for BI’s development in the coming years.
"Egil Matsen has led complex organizations at the intersection of economics, politics, and social responsibility. He has managed roles with high public visibility and clear expectations from boards, public authorities, and external stakeholders. His background provides a solid foundation for understanding the strategic, financial, and academic frameworks of a private, internationally accredited educational institution like BI,” says Hogna.
Matsen looks forward to further developing BI’s visibility and recognition as a leading research and educational institution.
"BI has built a solid academic reputation over many years. I am impressed by the school’s results in international rankings, research publications, and talent recruitment. BI’s Strategy 2030 sets a clear and ambitious direction centered on the relevance and societal impact of research and education. I look forward to strengthening and further developing BI’s position in collaboration with a highly skilled and competent organization,” says Madsen.
I look forward to strengthening and further developing BI’s position in collaboration with a highly skilled and competent organization.
Matsen also has considerable experience from boards and public committee experience. In 2021, he was appointed to lead the Coronavirus Commission. This role provided deep insight into the interplay between knowledge, politics, and society.
Matsen succeeds Karen Spens, who has served as President since August 2022. Her term ends 31 July 2026.
Short resume
Egil Matsen (born 1968) holds a PhD in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (2001). He has extensive leadership experience across academia, finance, and public administration. Matsen served as Deputy Governor of Norges Bank from 2016 to 2020 and was a member of its Executive Board for a ten-year period.
From 2020 to 2023, he was the CEO of the asset management company Forte Fondsforvaltning. Since 2024, he has served as the CEO of Sparebankstiftelsen DNB. His academic background includes roles as Professor and Head of Department at NTNU from 2014 to 2016 and Visiting Professor at Harvard University from 2013 to 2014. Additionally, he has experience as a researcher in the research department of Norges Bank.