Asbjørn Wetlesen
About Asbjørn Wetlesen
Asbjørn Wetlesen serves as the Vice President of Strategic IT and Sourcing at Cognite, where he has worked since 2021. He has held various leadership roles in IT and service management across several prominent Norwegian companies, including Telenor and Orkla Group.
Current Role at Cognite
Asbjørn Wetlesen serves as the Vice President of Strategic IT and Sourcing at Cognite, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he is responsible for delivering internal IT operations, ensuring a fast and scalable IT landscape that supports the company's rapidly growing global organization. He provides Cognite's data liberators with the necessary tools to maintain speed and make significant impacts within the company.
Previous Experience in IT Management
Wetlesen has extensive experience in IT management, having held various positions in leading Norwegian corporations. He worked at Eniro Norge AS as Service Manager - Head of IT Service Management from 2003 to 2006 and again for a brief period in 2006 to 2007. His tenure at Telenor Norge AS included roles such as Head of Contract Management, IS Service Manager Middleware & Masters, and Sourcing Group Manager, spanning from 2007 to 2012.
Leadership Roles at Orkla Group
At Orkla Group, Wetlesen held multiple senior leadership positions from 2014 to 2021. He served as Senior Vice President of Service Delivery for five years, followed by a year as Senior Vice President of IT Strategy, and then as Senior Vice President of Strategic Sourcing IT. His leadership in these roles contributed to the strategic direction and operational efficiency of the organization.
Educational Background
Wetlesen has a solid educational foundation in engineering and technology. He studied at Valler Videregående, where he achieved Artium in Realfag from 1992 to 1995. He then attended Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, earning an Ingeniør Marinteknikk in Marine Technology from 1996 to 1997. Additionally, he studied at Oslo and Akershus University College, where he focused on Machine, Marine, and Mechatronics, obtaining an Engineer degree from 1997 to 2001.
Experience in Operational and Vendor Management
Wetlesen has significant experience in leading operational and vendor management teams. His career includes roles that required managing complex IT services and vendor relationships, particularly in some of Norway's largest corporations. This experience has equipped him with the skills necessary to navigate the challenges of IT service management and strategic sourcing.