Norway (2 July 2009)   On Monday 30 June, Gro Brækken handed in her resignation as CEO of Save the Children Norway after 10 years at the organisation.

Her new workplace, as of 1 January 2010, will be the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF), where she will take up the position of chief executive.

Brækken told members of staff in Oslo on Tuesday of her decision to return to the oil business, which she knows well from her early career.

Brækken's business experience is extensive. She holds an MSc in engineering and began her career with 13 years of service at Norwegian oil companies Shell and Statoil. She has also been chief executive of Ulstein International.

At Den norske Bank, she held corporate responsibility for organisational and management development, and was subsequently regional vice president for Oslo and Akershus. She was in charge of industrial, environmental and international policy at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise from 1994-1999.

"It is not with a light heart I hand in my resignation," said Brækken. "Save the Children has seen a great development in recent years, especially when it comes to international cooperation. We have had some exciting and challenging processes that have been rewarding to be a part of. I will miss Save the Children and all its great staff."

SC Norway Chair, Borger Lenth, said the organisation has done extremely well under Brækken's management.

Lenth said: "SC Norway has become a highly professional player in the development market and has a high standing with the Norwegian government and Norad, as well as a tremendous reputation in the population.

"Gro has brought about an increase in income that has profited millions of children. At the same time, she has played a leading role in developing Save the Children to becoming a stronger and more efficient NGO for children's rights worldwide."

For more information, please see the OLF release in English on their website: http://www.olf.no/news/gro-braekken-to-head-olf-from-2010-article19245-291.html and, for any Norwegian readers, the story on SC Norway's site: http://www.reddbarna.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=22418.