Konrad B. Knutsen
Konrad Birger Knutsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 21, 1925 Voss, Norway |
| Died | October 2, 2012 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | Public official, lawyer, banker |
| Years active | 1958–1987 |
| Known for | County Governor of Rogaland, State Conciliator of Norway, CEO of Rogalandsbanken |
Konrad Birger Knutsen (21 September 1925 – 2 October 2012) was a prominent Norwegian public official.
Originating from Voss, he spent his formative years in Bergen and Trondheim. After obtaining a cand.jur. degree, Knutsen held positions at the Norwegian School of Economics and within the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. In 1958, he was appointed as chief administrative officer in Hetland, becoming the youngest individual in Norway to assume this post. Following the incorporation of Hetland into Stavanger, he took on the role of chief administrative officer for technical affairs, later transitioning to chief administrative officer for finance between 1967 and 1973. From 1973 until 1981, Knutsen served as the County Governor of Rogaland and concurrently held the office of State Conciliator of Norway from January 1975 to November 1981. Subsequently, he led Rogalandsbanken as CEO until its dissolution in 1987, after which he practiced law.
Knutsen was instrumental in positioning Stavanger as the central hub for both Statoil and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate during his time in Stavanger and Rogaland. He actively promoted industrial growth at Forus and played a significant part in advancing the establishment of the University of Stavanger, inaugurated in 2005. Additionally, he chaired Elf Aquitaine Norway and served on boards including the Norwegian Missionary Society and the Norwegian Seamen's Mission.
His achievements were recognized with the rank of Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1980, followed by receiving the Legion of Honour in 1984. Knutsen died in October 2012.