DNV GL Names New CEO of Digital Business

Classification society DNV GL has appointed Kenneth Vareide as the new CEO of the Digital Solutions business area.

Vareide joined DNV GL as a trainee in 1996 and most recently held the position of Digital Director in business area Maritime.

DNV GL’s Digital Solutions provides solutions for managing risk and improving asset performance. Its services are used primarily by the oil & gas, energy, renewable and maritime industries and it consists of close to 1,000 digital experts.

“It is an exciting and challenging time to pick up the CEO’s baton, as many of our customers are navigating digital transformations,” Vareide said, adding that the company has knowledge and digital expertise to help its clients leverage the possibilities of the fourth industrial revolution.

Oil & gas executives surveyed in DNV GL’s Industry Outlook highlighted digitalization as the leading R&D priority, although a lack of relevant skills was identified as the biggest barrier. Their peers in the energy value chain told a similar story in “Digitalization and the future of energy”, with 91% of companies saying that further digital skills training was needed.

“Our long commitment to creating value from digital technology means that we are able to combine deep domain and digital knowledge. As a company, we are in a constant dialogue with our customers and we are committed to providing solutions that bridge their digital skills gap,” Vareide explained.

Digital Solutions is behind established software such as Sesam, Nauticus and Synergi. It also encompasses Veracity, DNV GL’s data platform which has registered 160 000 activated users since its inception in 2017. Veracity acts as a secure repository for data and allows companies to access services from DNV GL or verified third parties.

“We have put digitalization at the heart of our strategy and I am delighted that Kenneth has agreed to lead Digital Solutions at this pivotal time for DNV GL,” Remi Eriksen, DNV GL Group President and CEO, said.

Digital Solutions is one of DNV GL’s five business areas, along with Maritime, Oil & Gas, Energy and Business Assurance.