The Norwegian state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping, has officially appointed Tonje Sagstuen as its permanent managing director with immediate effect, following a period of her serving as the acting CEO since September. The transition to permanent leadership materialized after the former CEO, Thor Gjermund Eriksen, resigned in June, leaving the position at the ending of August after a tenure slightly exceeding one year.
Norsk Tipping’s choice of Sagstuen as the permanent managing director is significant, denoting a pivotal moment in the company’s executive history. Sagstuen is no stranger to the dynamics of Norsk Tipping’s senior management, having been part of the team since 2014, and more recently holding the position of director of responsibility, society, and communication. Her expertise extends beyond the company’s walls; before joining Norsk Tipping, Sagstuen was deeply entrenched in the media landscape for nearly five years, spearheading the Norwegian newspaper Oppland Arbeiderblad as its editor-in-chief and news editor. Distinguished also for her past as a professional handball player, she has donned the Norwegian national team jersey 217 times, which speaks volumes about her leadership and team-building skills.
Reflecting upon her appointment, Sagstuen expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards the board for their trust, also noting the weight of the responsibility bestowed upon her. “We are a large company that plays an important role for the whole of Norway. I look forward to leading the work on our important social mission further,” she remarked with eager anticipation for the future.
The decision has been met with unanimous support from Norsk Tipping’s chairman, Sylvia Brustad, who lauded Sagstuen’s capabilities and familiarity with the organization and its workforce. Brustad acknowledged the commendable performance of Sagstuen as the acting managing director and revealed the board’s pleasure at her acceptance of the permanent position. Brustad’s statement underscores the belief that Sagstuen is the fitting choice to steer the company onward.
Sagstuen’s ascension to the helm of Norsk Tipping occurs as the company navigates through a period of doubt regarding its future as the sole online gambling enterprise in Norway. In the shadows of this uncertainty, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has called upon Norwegian lawmakers to abandon the long-standing monopoly framework and progress towards a licensing model more reflective of contemporary online gambling practices.
Norway currently stands as one of the few European nations that uphold a state gambling monopoly, a system that the EGBA argues is outpaced and should take inspiration from neighboring countries like Sweden and Finland that have already embraced a licensing approach. Maarten Haijer, the EGBA secretary-general, advocates that such a shift would remedy issues related to consumers seeking unlicensed gambling avenues, whilst fulfilling the demand for alternative and more versatile gambling options.
Adaptation to regulatory pressures isn’t new for Norsk Tipping; just the previous month, the company, along with the Pari-mutuel horse racing betting service, Norsk Rikstoto, initiated stringent marketing expenditure reductions. This movement was a response to directives from the Norwegian Lottery Authority (Lottstift), which had mandated the cutbacks to curb illegal gambling operator advertisements on Norwegian television networks. Promptly reacting to the order, Norsk Tipping announced the cessation of its sports betting adverts aired on national TV.
As Norsk Tipping stands at this strategic precipice with a newly appointed managing director, the organization is tasked with shaping its trajectory in accordance with regulatory expectations while delivering on its social mission. Sagstuen appears set to navigate these challenges, harnessing her extensive experience and deep understanding of the company’s ethos. The period ahead will be instrumental in defining how Norsk Tipping evolves within the dynamic landscape of Norway’s gambling industry.
