Harald Norvik, the chairman of the board of directors of Telenor, has announced his resignation from the position. He said he was stepping down because the Minister of Trade and Industry, Trond Giske, had expressed a lack of confidence in him following the handling of the sale of TV2 in January.
The Norwegian government owns 54 percent of Telenor. Telenor and trade union confederation LO own newspaper and media company A-pressen, which sold its 50 percent stake in television channel TV2 to Danish media company Egmont in January.
Norwegian media said Giske had opposed the sale and Norvik had resented government attempts to intervene in the deal. Telenor said Norvik will continue as board chairman until a replacement is elected by the corporate assembly. Norvik has served as chairman since 31 May 2007.
