Egil Hogna
Egil Olav Hogna | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 12, 1971 Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, corporate leader |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | CEO of Sapa Group (2015–2017), Executive VP at Hydro Extruded Solutions (2017–2020), CEO of Norconsult (2020–present) |
Egil Olav Hogna (born 12 March 1971) is a Norwegian engineer and corporate leader. He assumed the role of CEO at Sapa Group, the leading global aluminium processor, on 1 September 2015. At that time, Sapa operated with a turnover of NOK 53 billion and employed 22,400 individuals in 40 countries. Following Hydro's acquisition of Sapa in 2017, the company was merged into Hydro as its largest business segment, where Hogna headed the Extruded Solutions division until 2020. On 1 December 2020, he took on the position of CEO at Norconsult. Hogna holds a master's degree in Industrial Economics from NTNU, an MBA from INSEAD, and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
McKinsey & Company
Between 1994 and 1999, Hogna worked as a consultant in the Oslo office of McKinsey & Company, collaborating with distinguished colleagues such as Hugo Maurstad and Fredrik Halvorsen.
Hydro
In 1999, Hogna was appointed Corporate Controller for Norsk Hydro Agri and played a vital role in the Agri Turnaround initiative (1999–2001), which culminated in Yara’s demerger and public listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2004. From January 2002 until September 2003, he held the position of Vice President at Hydro Aluminium Metal Products, responsible for Supply Chain and Performance Management.
Yara
Hogna led investor relations at Yara during its public offering between 2003 and 2006, an experience that was instrumental in his subsequent appointment as CEO of Sapa. In January 2007, he became Business Unit Manager for Southern Europe at Yara International, overseeing approximately 400 staff and generating revenues near USD 800 million. He was promoted to CFO in 2008 and then to Executive Vice President of Downstream in 2009, a role he maintained until April 2015, when he advanced to Senior Vice President. Additionally, Hogna served on the board of Qatar Fertilizer Company (Qafco) from 2009 to 2012.
Sapa
Following Svein Tore Holsether’s departure from Sapa on August 26, 2015 to lead Yara International ASA as CEO, Egil Hogna was appointed to succeed him at Sapa. In April 2016, Hogna inaugurated Sapa's inaugural automotive-focused R&D laboratory in Detroit, North America, catering to clients such as Jaguar Land Rover and Tesla. Emphasizing a lean organizational structure, he dedicated his first hundred days visiting production facilities worldwide including sites in China, Denmark, the United States, and Sweden.
Hydro
After Hydro's acquisition of Sapa on October 2, 2017, the company became Hydro's largest business division with a workforce of 22,500 across 40 countries. As Executive Vice President for Extruded Solutions, Hogna concentrated on advancing technology, innovation, customer engagement, and sustainability within industries like automotive and construction. He was instrumental in launching Hydro CIRCAL—a recycled aluminium product for construction—and introducing Hydro REDUXA, a low-carbon metal offering in Europe. During his leadership tenure, he managed significant challenges such as the cyberattack in 2019 and steered the division's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Norconsult
On December 1, 2020, Hogna assumed leadership as CEO of Norconsult, Norway’s foremost multidisciplinary consulting firm specializing in community planning, engineering services, and architectural design throughout the Nordic countries.
The Tesla of the Seas
In March 2016, Hogna drew attention to Norway's capability to develop "The Tesla of the Seas"—an emission-free, high-speed ferry initiative undertaken by Fjellstrand shipyard in collaboration with the Maritime Clean Tech West cluster—constructed using aluminium supplied by Sapa and Hydro.
Sustainability
Hogna prioritizes recycling and eco-friendly technologies as key strategic objectives. During his tenure, Sapa partnered with IKEA to create a modular aluminium-framed furniture collection introduced in 2018. After the United States exited the Paris Climate Agreement, Hogna highlighted the imperative for businesses to assume greater responsibility when governmental actions are insufficient.
In alignment with figures such as Richard Branson and Paul Polman, Hogna pledged Sapa’s support for the United Nations’ sustainability agenda through participation in the Oslo-based Business for Peace Foundation. The affiliated companies collectively generate revenues exceeding NOK 5,700 billion and employ more than 2.2 million individuals.
Private life
An avid runner, Hogna completed the 2013 New York Marathon with a time of 3:18:16, placing 487th within his age category.