Thomas Askeland — Senior Finance Executive

Hello, I'm

Thomas Haave Askeland

Senior Finance Executive

Oslo, Norway

19+ years spanning strategy consulting, corporate banking, and C-suite leadership — driving IPOs, cross-border M&A, and AI-enabled finance transformation.

Get in Touch Download CV

Executive Profile

Senior finance executive with 19+ years of experience spanning strategy consulting (Deloitte), corporate banking (Danske Bank), and C-suite leadership in multinational industrials (Elopak) and global technology (Microsoft). Led Elopak's NOK 7.3 billion IPO, executed cross-border M&A across MENA, Russia and sub-Saharan Africa, and built an extensive Nordic CFO network through 50+ executive engagements at Microsoft.

Combines hands-on transaction leadership, deep technology sector knowledge, and established C-suite relationships across Norwegian and Nordic enterprises — a platform well-suited to building and scaling a corporate finance and M&A advisory practice.

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IPO Leadership

Project lead for Elopak's Oslo Stock Exchange listing — NOK 7.3bn market cap, full-cycle from preparation to investor roadshow

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Cross-Border M&A

Acquisition of Naturepak in MENA (EV ~USD 100m), divestment under sanctions, and JV transactions across Saudi Arabia and Kenya

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C-Suite Network

Established relationships with 50+ Nordic enterprise CFOs through Microsoft's executive engagement programme

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AI Transformation

EMEA Frontier Finance lead at Microsoft — driving AI-enabled finance transformation across Nordic enterprises

Professional Experience

Nordics CFO

Microsoft Nov 2022 – Present
  • EMEA Frontier Finance lead: spearhead AI-enabled finance capabilities, delivering executive transformation workshops to 50+ Nordic enterprise CFOs
  • Built extensive C-suite relationships across Norwegian and Nordic technology, industrial and financial services companies
  • Lead the Nordics finance organisation (~20 professionals) across Norway, Sweden and Finland
  • Member of the Norwegian leadership team; executive sponsor for cybersecurity initiatives at Microsoft Norway

Director, Strategy & Investor Relations

Elopak ASA Jun 2021 – Oct 2022

Oslo-listed packaging company, ~2,700 employees, annual revenue ~EUR 900 million

  • Project lead for Elopak's IPO on the Oslo Stock Exchange (June 2021, NOK 7.3bn market cap) — coordinated six external advisor workstreams, managed due diligence, prepared prospectus and led international investor roadshow
  • M&A project lead for cross-border acquisition of Naturepak in Saudi Arabia and Morocco (EV ~USD 100m)
  • Led divestment of Russian subsidiary under sanctions pressure following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine
  • Established and led Elopak's investor relations function post-IPO
  • Responsible for treasury, financing, strategy execution, business planning and risk management at Group level

Director, Strategy Office

Elopak Jan 2020 – Jun 2021
  • Led setup of Joint Venture in Kenya with major sub-Saharan African packaging player
  • M&A project lead for sale of JV ownership in MENA region (Saudi Arabia)
  • Responsible for treasury, financing, strategy execution and risk management at Group level

Director, Corporate Treasury

Elopak Oct 2014 – Dec 2019
  • Head of corporate treasury and financing with global responsibility for cash management, capital structure, FX/commodity risk management, insurance and hedge accounting
  • Led SAP Finance/Treasury implementation; restructured global banking setup and executed Group refinancing
  • Board member of Elopak Obeikan JV (Saudi Arabia) and Elopak Fastiv (Ukraine)
  • Led business development project for Elopak's expansion into sub-Saharan Africa

Senior Analyst & Relationship Manager

Danske Bank Aug 2011 – Oct 2014
  • Loan Capital Markets: credit analysis, structuring and issuance of leveraged finance and structured loans for PE-backed companies and large corporates
  • Relationship manager for PE funds, family offices and offshore/energy clients — originating and executing financing solutions

Consultant

Xrgia AS Feb 2010 – Jul 2011
  • Strategy consulting for Norwegian energy sector clients including Statkraft
  • Operational strategy and quality systems for renewable energy companies

Strategy Consultant

Deloitte UK & Norway Jul 2007 – Jan 2010
  • Seconded to the London 2012 Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) as Commercial Business Manager, reporting to the Commercial Director
  • Developed commercial strategy, licensing and retail business models, and supported ticketing operations for the London 2012 Olympics

Education & Credentials

2022

Executive MBA in Applied Finance

NHH Norwegian School of Economics

Term paper: valuation analysis of Scatec Solar's acquisition of SN Power and subsequent equity issue

2013–2015

Authorised Financial Analyst (AFA)

NHH Norwegian School of Economics

Norwegian CFA-equivalent programme (48 ECTS) — corporate finance, valuation, portfolio management

2002–2007

MSc Economics & Business Administration

NHH Norwegian School of Economics

Military Service

Royal Norwegian Navy — Executive Officer (XO), 2nd Lieutenant (2001–2002)

Key Achievements

NOK 7.3bn
IPO Market Cap

Led Elopak's full-cycle IPO on the Oslo Stock Exchange — from preparation and prospectus through international investor roadshow

~USD 100m
Cross-Border M&A

Project lead for Naturepak acquisition spanning Saudi Arabia and Morocco, plus multiple JV and divestiture transactions

50+
CFO Engagements

Built an extensive Nordic C-suite network through Microsoft's executive transformation programme across technology, industrial and financial services

3
Countries Led

Nordics CFO at Microsoft leading finance across Norway, Sweden and Finland — ~20 professionals, full P&L ownership

19+
Years of Experience

Career spanning Deloitte, Danske Bank, Elopak and Microsoft — from strategy consulting to C-suite finance leadership

EMEA
AI Finance Lead

Spearheading AI-enabled finance transformation across EMEA, delivering executive workshops to Nordic enterprise CFOs and their teams

Get in Touch

I'm open to conversations about corporate finance leadership, M&A advisory, and board opportunities.

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askeland.thomas@gmail.com
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LinkedIn Profile
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Download CV (PDF)