Treschow Fritzøe's trading business has a turnover of NOK 3 billion this year and consists of Fritzøe Engros AS in Norway, CEOS AB and Ljungberg Fritzøe AB in Sweden, as well as DLH A/S in Denmark. The group has a total of over 200 employees and is a leader in Scandinavia in the sale and distribution of, among other things, wood-based panel products and hardwood. The customers are building supply chains and the woodworking industry in the respective countries (B2B).

Cato Ness will take over management responsibility for the retail business area from Oddbjørn Hagen, who will move into an advisory role upon reaching retirement age, from 1 September 2021. Oddbjørn has been employed since 1975 and has held a central position in the establishment and development of retail in Treschow Fritzøe.

Cato comes from the position as CEO of the building materials chain Carlsen Fritzøe Handel. AS , which in 2020 had a turnover of 2.4 billion nok in its 25 stores in the Eastern region. He was employed here for 14 years, of which the last 12 years as CEO. Previously, Cato has held various management positions within the industry, including as production director and operations director at SensoNor AS .

Cato has held several board positions, and is a graduate engineer with additional education in Business Administration from Babson College in the USA.

"I'm looking forward to meeting new colleagues in an exciting company with good results and clear growth ambitions," says Cato.

He will be part of the Treschow Fritzøe Group Management Team and report to Chairman and CEO, Dag J. Opedal.

I would like to express my great gratitude to Oddbjørn Hagen for his long-term, value-creating and loyal efforts for the group. Oddbjørn has been a skilled leader who has achieved very good results. I am grateful that he will contribute with his experience and expertise also during a transitional period. At the same time, I am pleased that Cato Ness is taking over the baton. I have worked well with Cato in the past, and I feel confident that he has the right skills to take the business to the next level.

Treschow Fritzøe's owner, Michael S. Treschow, speaks out on the change of leadership