The Board of the Bellona Foundation has appointed former Minister of Climate and the Environment Sveinung Rotevatn as Managing Director of Bellona Norway. Rotevatn will also be part of Bellona’s Global Management Team.

“The Board has worked throughout the autumn to strengthen the organization’s leadership and capacity. We are very pleased and proud that Sveinung Rotevatn has accepted the role of leading Bellona’s work in Norway. The Board is unanimous in its view that we could not have found a better candidate than Sveinung,” said Frederic Hauge, Founder of Bellona, and its leading public figure for 40 years.

“With Rotevatn, Bellona and the environmental movement gain a highly qualified and capable leader in whom we have full confidence. He will lead the continued development of Bellona both professionally and organizationally, while also representing Bellona and contributing to the public debate in an excellent way,” continued Hauge.

Will create important synergies

“The Board has placed strong emphasis on Rotevatn’s impressive experience and background. He represents an exciting combination of subject-matter expertise, leadership skills and the ability to work closely with people. Not least, he brings deep political insight and experience from both Norwegian and international contexts,” said Hauge.

“Through his leadership roles and responsibilities in the Liberal Party, Rotevatn has helped build an organization and delivered impressive results. As a lawyer, with experience as an elected representative and with positions at every level of democracy, from municipal council to the Norwegian Parliament, he knows Norwegian society very well. His experience as State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and as Minister in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment has given Rotevatn an in-depth understanding of how society functions. With his political experience and Bellona’s strong professional staff, we will create important synergies in the years ahead, both in Norway and internationally,” said Hauge.

“The Board has also emphasized Rotevatn’s interpersonal skills. We share a common understanding of the importance of the business sector in environmental work and of the political and economic framework conditions that must be in place. It has also been important to us that Rotevatn and Bellona share the same understanding of the role the EU plays in environmental issues and for industry. For Bellona’s work in supporting Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian authorities, Rotevatn’s geopolitical understanding and engagement for Ukraine will also be important,” emphasized Hauge.

International growth

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Bellona’s founding. The environmental foundation has achieved significant results in the fight for climate and the environment, both in Norway and internationally. The Board has prioritized developing the organization to manage growth and the substantial increase in activity across several countries, and has worked purposefully to further develop Bellona’s organizational structure, principles, strategy and methodology for the environmental and climate efforts of the future.

At the request of the Board, Frederic Hauge will assume the role of Chair of the Board. Current Chair Henrik A. Lund will, after long and dedicated service with strong commitment and significant results, continue as a Board member.  Nina Hjellegjerde will continue as CEO of Bellona’s international organization. Sveinung Rotevatn will assume the position of Managing Director of Bellona Norway on 5 January 2026.

Bellona currently employs more than 100 people. Bellona’s EU office has, over 30 years, grown to 40 employees. Bellona Germany has 15 employees after four years of operation. Seven of Bellona’s employees from the offices in Murmansk and St. Petersburg were evacuated to Vilnius following Russia’s war and invasion of Ukraine in 2022, where their expertise in Russian environmental work is now being continued. In Norway, Bellona has 40 employees at its Oslo office. In addition, the foundation is now establishing a Center for Marine Restoration in Kabelvåg in Lofoten, with two employees starting early next year.