AmCham 2025 AGM & Transatlantic Business Assembly

AmCham Annual General Meeting & Transatlantic Business Assembly 2025

Managing Director Jason Turflinger extended a warm welcome to attendees at AmCham’s 2025 Annual General Meeting, graciously hosted by Thommessen. He presented the organization’s non-profit results, future initiatives, and strategic priorities. AmCham Chair Ketil Nordengen (3M) emphasized the critical role of pragmatic collaboration and trusted cross-industry partnerships. With nearly 400 US companies operating in Norway and deep commercial ties in both directions, Nordengen stressed the need for strategic resilience, informed decision-making, and shared learning. He reaffirmed AmCham’s commitment to its core priorities: public-private trust, business innovation, stable frameworks, and professional development – principles that continue to guide members through change.

A Renewed AmCham Board of Directors

Nominees for AmCham’s Board of Directors were announced, with Andreea Mocofan (MSD) and Christian Aho (Citi) confirmed and warmly welcomed. The renewed Board of Directors boasts extensive, international cross-industry expertise, well capable of boosting key pro-business initiatives.

Outgoing board member Michael Klem was warmly recognized for his 20 years of outstanding service and steadfast dedication to AmCham Norway’s transatlantic mission. His remarkable contributions and deep commitment have left a lasting impact on the organization. Notably, his two-decade board tenure marks the longest in AmCham’s 67-year history.

Advancing Transatlantic Collaboration in Times of Transition

Following the AGM, the annual Transatlantic Assembly commenced, focusing on industrial policy, sustainability, and evolving global trade dynamics. Host and Thommessen’s Managing Partner Sverre Tyrhaug provided opening remarks, followed by keynotes from Bridget Fawcett, Global Head of Sustainability & Corporate Transitions Investment Banking at Citi, and Heidi Nordby Lunde, Member of Parliament (H).

Fawcett highlighted the Nordics’ longstanding leadership within sustainability, noting that progress, albeit not always linear, is tangible and gaining momentum. She underscored the importance of Nordic-US collaboration in the energy transition, particularly given shared goals around net-zero targets and renewable investments. Nordby Lunde emphasized the need for political and regulatory predictability amid shifts in global trade. She raised concerns about rising protectionism, calling for fair competition, trust-based partnerships, and greater acknowledgment of shifting perceptions between Europe and the US.

Robert S. Needham, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the US Embassy in Oslo, provided brief remarks to the audience, emphasizing that Norway remains an important partner, with strong bilateral cooperation grounded in mutual interests.

“We value the productive working relationship with AmCham. We also welcome AmCham’s perspective on opportunities to grow our bilateral trade and investment collaboration and identify gaps where our industries may have mutual interests. Norway remains an important partner, and we’re keen to build on our existing success, including in key sectors such as energy, defense, tech, and critical minerals. We have a close dialogue on many levels with the Government of Norway and the private sector, and the US-Norway bilateral commercial dialogue is one such opportunity for our governments to engage and to consult with industry.”

The subsequent panel discussion addressed the strategic importance of deepening transatlantic cooperation across sustainability, defense, and industrial transformation. Fawcett and Nordby Lunde were joined by Hedvig Moe, Partner & National Security Advisory Lead at Thommessen, Frank Øverli, Vice President Corporate Development at Hydro, and Kåre Aas, former Norwegian Ambassador to the US/Special Advisor at Kruse Larsen.

Panelists highlighted the urgency of securing critical minerals, strengthening supply chains, and fostering energy innovation. Norway’s role as a stable and trusted partner was acknowledged as an advantage to navigating geopolitical uncertainty.

The panel agreed that rebuilding and maintaining trust, ensuring open communication, and balancing national security with fair market access are essential for long-term cooperation. There was broad recognition that cross-industry trade and development strategies should align with shared democratic values to support competitiveness, resilience, and the green transition.

Photos: Milimo Media