Finn Lied
Finn Lied | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Norway |
| Died | October 10, 2014 (aged 98) |
| Occupation(s) | Researcher in military science, politician |
| Years active | 1941–1984 |
| Known for | Founding Statoil, Norwegian petroleum taxation framework |
Finn Lied (12 April 1916 – 10 October 2014) was a Norwegian researcher in military science and a politician affiliated with the Labour Party, who played a crucial role in founding the state-owned oil enterprise Statoil. He was instrumental in designing a taxation framework that ensured the Norwegian government collected considerable revenues from petroleum activities on the continental shelf, thereby generating substantial economic advantages for the country.
Career
During the 1940 invasion of Norway by Nazi Germany, Lied pursued electrical engineering studies at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim. In 1941, he escaped to Sweden, where he collaborated with the Norwegian Military Attaché in Stockholm. Subsequently, after completing officer training, he relocated to the United Kingdom to join the communications division of the Armed Forces High Command.
Lied’s professional life was primarily associated with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), where he was employed from 1946 until 1983. He held the position of director from 1957 until his retirement. Under his leadership, FFI developed a strong focus on technological research as a driver for societal progress.
Serving as Minister of Industry in Trygve Bratteli’s administration from 17 March 1971 to 18 October 1972, Lied was aware of how other countries struggled with oil wealth leading to economic distortions and concentration of wealth among elites. He promoted a governance approach combined with a stringent taxation system designed to retain the majority of oil-generated wealth within Norway, thereby bolstering the welfare state.
Lied was central to establishing Statoil in 1972 and appointed his undersecretary Arve Johnsen as its inaugural CEO. From 1974 to 1984, he chaired Statoil, which operated as a government-owned company collaborating with international firms under Norwegian governmental supervision.
Support for Israel
In the context of the Yom Kippur War, Lied chaired the advocacy group Let Israel Live and later contributed to founding Friends of Israel in the Norwegian Labour Movement (Norwegian: Venner av Israel i Norsk Arbeiderbevegelse (VINA). Between 1978 and 1993, he also participated as a member of the Norwegian Committee supporting Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Honours
Lied was decorated as a commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1980 and awarded the Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch. Two years later, in 1982, he received an Honorary Knight Commander title from the British Royal Victorian Order.