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Former governor returning to post this fall
Odd Olsen Ingerø to head office after four-year absence; other new senior officials also coming

Odd Olsen Ingerø

Meet the new governor, same as the old governor.

Odd Olsen Ingerø, 58, has been named Svalbard's new sysselmann for a three-year term starting on an undetermined date later this year. He served in the same position from 2001 to 2005 before becoming head of Norway's criminal police department.

In an interview with Svalbardposten, he said the sysselmann appointment is "a last chance to come back."

"I left very abruptly and was not completely finished with Svalbard," he told the newspaper. "I think I got really lucky to have the opportunity to come up for a second time."

He replaces Per Sefland, who was appointed to the position in September of 2005 and is departing voluntarily to return to the mainland. Sven Ole Fagernæs served briefly as acting governor after Ongerø's departure.

Also departing this year are two long-serving lieutenants in the governor's office. Petter Braaten is departing in August after eight years to become the state nature supervisor of Hallingskarvet National Park. Roar Mordal Hilde departed in June after six years to join his family on the mainland and work with the police department in Molde.

Ingerø was selected ahead of three other candidates, with his previous experience in Svalbard and internationally cited as key reasons. He was a deputy judge in Vardø from 1980-1981 and a police department official at the municipal and national level for more than 20 years. He has worked closely with Russian officials as the head of the East Finnmark police, and participated in the FBI Academy's senior program in Washington, D.C.

Svalbard's governor reports to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and is in charge of three departments: environmental conservation, police and administration. The office also numerous other matters such as fire prevention, board of health tasks and civil activities like marriages. He also oversees issues related to sovereignty, making relationships with the Russian community of Barentsburg and other countries with a research presence in the archipelago a significant priority.

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