Norwegian oil giant Statoil has named a new chief executive after corruption allegations forced the previous top management team out of office last year.
The new man at the helm is 42-year old Helge Lund, who joins Statoil from Aker Kvaerner. He replaces Olav Fjell, who had been forced to resign amid press reports of bribery payments by Statoil in dealings with Iran.
Lund was 'the first choice of the board' and the vote in his favour was unanimous, Statoil chairman Jannik Lindbaek said in a statement. He takes over his new job on August 15.
Last September Fjell and the company's chairman, Leif Terje Loeddesoel, stepped down in response to the launch of a police probe into bribery allegations surrounding the company's contract with a London-based consultancy, Horton Investments.
Norwegian police raided Statoil's headquarters on September 11 following media reports alleging that the company had signed a contract with Iranian consultant, Abbas Yazdi, for $15.2m to smooth business development deals in Iran.
The contract, which has been cancelled since, was to ensure Statoil consultancy services on business and political developments in Iran until 2012, but may have violated Norwegian law.
