All posts by Margrethe Harboe

FedEx sues Trump administration for ‘full refund’ after tariffs overturned – ABC News

Business News, Government, Tax, Trade

FedEx is suing the Trump administration to get a “full refund” for all the tariffs the company paid that have since been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, a complaint shows.

“Plaintiffs seek for themselves a full refund from Defendants of all IEEPA duties Plaintiffs have paid to the United States,” lawyers for FedEx said in the complaint, filed Monday in the Court of International Trade in New York.

The filing did not specify how much the company is seeking to be refunded. It names the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency’s commissioner, Rodney Scott, and the United States of America as the defendants.

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AmCham Mentorship Program Final Group Gathering 2025-2026

AmCham News

AmCham Mentorship Program Final Group Gathering 2025-2026: From Potential to Performance Through Culture and Belonging

A decade of mentorship has built a strong legacy of cross-industry collaboration. The tenth anniversary edition of AmCham’s Mentorship Program concluded at Radisson Blu Hotel Nydalen, just steps away from where participants’ journeys began nine months earlier. The meeting symbolically rounded off months of leadership development, reflection, and connection.

In total, 78 participants from 35 Patron member companies across 16 industries took part in this program edition, underscoring its dynamic and cross-industry design. Welcoming participants was Radisson’s Marius Rise, Director of Sales Eastern Norway and Stavanger, explaining the context of the location.

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Lene Rennemo

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Sveiby

Karolina Sveiby

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From Potential to Performance

Lene Rennemo, Head of People Development at McDonald’s, opened with a powerful story about a young man who found a sense of safety and belonging in the community at his local McDonald’s, illustrating the deep impact a workplace can have, especially on youth. For many of McDonald’s 5500 employees – 70% of whom are under the age of 24 – the company represents not only their first job, but also a formative experience of structure, team spirit, and opportunity.

Rennemo explained how the heart of the organization is a clear “people promise,” where team spirit is described as its greatest strength. Through a structured employee experience roadmap, internal training programs, and McDonald’s Business School, employees are given clear pathways for development, from entry-level roles to leadership positions.

“This is the most brilliant generation if you manage to lead them.”

Lene Rennemo, on Generation Z and Alpha

With a strong focus on training, internal mobility, and performance, the company demonstrates how scale and structure can go hand-in-hand with care and individual growth. The session sparked an engaging dialogue with participants, particularly around leading younger generations, adapting leadership styles over time, and retaining talent in a rapidly changing workplace.

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Lene Rennemo

The Power of Intercultural Competence

Creating a sense of belonging for diverse employees requires more than just structure; it requires intercultural agility. Karolina Sveiby, Country Manager of Instruction FIN/NO and Intercultural Trainer at Berlitz Nordics, explored how culture and values shape how we think, learn, communicate, and interpret the world around us. Since values drive behavior, understanding both our own and others’ frame of reference is critical for effective leadership.

“The business case is going strong for diversity and inclusion.”

Karolina Sveiby

Sveiby challenged participants to examine their assumptions and biases, emphasizing that inclusion requires conscious effort. While working across differences can be demanding, research shows that organizations embracing diversity and collective potential achieve stronger results, better retention, and greater innovation. Leaders, she argued, must become brokers who build trust across differences by consulting diverse voices, demonstrating openness to changing their minds, and communicating with transparency and candor.

Karolina Sveiby

Participating Companies 2025-26:

About the AmCham Mentorship Program

With its unique cross-industry orientation, the AmCham Mentorship Program offers a dynamic, internationally minded arena for leadership development.

The program pairs emerging corporate talent with seasoned executives from AmCham Patron-level member companies. The result: a collaborative arena that fosters improvement and reflection, prepares young leaders for the challenges of the international marketplace, and forges bonds between AmCham member companies.

The Mentorship program is available to Patron-level members of AmCham Norway. For further information and interest in the program, please contact Margrethe.Harboe@amcham.no.

Past Mentorship Program Events

Oceaneering Secures Multi-Year Inspection Contract Extension in Norway

Business News, Energy, Manufacturing

Houston – Oceaneering International, Inc. announced that its Integrity Management and Digital Solutions (IMDS) business has secured a four-year extension to its inspection support contract for multiple Equinor assets in Norway. The extension period began on January 1, 2026.

The scope includes In-Service Inspection, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Advanced NDT, Rope Access, and the provision of Inspection Engineers. Services will cover three onshore installations Hammerfest, Kollsnes, and Kårstø, as well as three offshore assets Aasta Hansteen, Norne, and Johan Castberg, located in the Barents and Norwegian Seas.

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New York State of Wine: An Exclusive Masterclass & Tasting

AmCham News, Food & Beverage, ,

New York State of Wine: An Exclusive Masterclass & Tasting

On February 5th, AmCham Norway, in close collaboration with the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, welcomed wine industry professionals to an immersive journey through the diverse terroirs of New York State.

With over 60 wines from 23 different wineries on hand, the event provided a rare opportunity for Norwegian trade, media, and AmCham members to explore regions ranging from the iconic Finger Lakes to the maritime climate of Long Island and the historic Hudson River Valley.

A Deep Dive: The New York Masterclass

The day began with an intensive masterclass tailored for Vinmonopolet buyers, importers and sommeliers. Six industry experts – those behind the vines – shared their insights on the unique challenges and triumphs of New York viticulture:

  • Winemaker, Kelby Russell (Apollo’s Praise) opened with a historical perspective on winemaking in the state.
  • Owner, Dave Pittard (Buttonwood Grove & Six Eighty Cellars) provided a detailed look at the Finger Lakes (FLX) presentation.
  • Chief Operations Officer, Jenny Menges (Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard) discussed the essential varietals of the FLX and the critical nursery work being done at Wiemer.
  • VP/General Manager, Mario Mazza (Mazza Chautauqua Cellars) provided a regional focus on Lake Erie and Long Island.
  • Winemaker, Casey Erdmann (Fjord Vineyards) highlighted the distinctive characteristics of the Hudson River region.
  • Winemaker, Taylor Stember (Living Roots Wine & Co) closed the session with an update on the 2024 vintage and what enthusiasts can expect from the upcoming bottles.

Full List of Wines Presented

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Trade & Member Tastings

Following the masterclass, the afternoon transitioned into two “walkaround” sessions. The first was dedicated to the trade and media, allowing professionals to evaluate unique vintages – many of which are not yet available in the Norwegian market. Potentials importers left inspired with new wines on their radar and insights into the region.

The day concluded with an exclusive session for AmCham members. As the sun set over Tjuvholmen, guests enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of Sjømagasinet while sampling a massive portfolio of Rieslings, Cabernets Francs, and innovative blends.

Collaboration and Community

During the evening session, AmCham’s Jason Turflinger took a moment to thank the partners who made the ambitious event possible. Special recognition went to Aurélie Soulat and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation for their partnership, and to Tom Kristensen of Haugen-Gruppen – a dedicated AmCham member and importer – for his continued support of the US wine category in Norway.
The event served as a perfect kickoff to a busy weekend in the city, aligning with the start of the Oslo Vinfestival as well as a busy European tour for the NY wine crew.

For additional information on this event or to learn more about how to get involved in our US wine initiatives, please reach out to Madeleine Brekke at mb@amcham.no.

Past Wine Tastings

Kongsberg Digital partners with Google Cloud to scale industrial intelligence solutions through secure, AI-driven infrastructure

Business News, Technology

Kongsberg Digital, a leading provider of industrial software and digital twin technology, has entered into a partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate the delivery of scalable, AI-powered industrial intelligence for global energy and industrial customers.

The collaboration combines Kongsberg Digital’s deep industrial domain expertise and flagship Industrial Work Surface digital twin solution, Kognitwin®, with Google Cloud’s hyperscale computing infrastructure and advanced AI capabilities. The collaboration will enable customers to move beyond traditional data storage and analytics toward the real-time synthesis of complex industrial data, delivering measurable operational impact across safety, efficiency, and asset performance.

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Norway wealth fund boosts US Treasury holdings despite government debt concerns

Accounting / Financial, Business News

Norway’s $2.2 trillion wealth fund, the world’s largest, has maintained its appetite for U.S. Treasury bonds even ​though it has concerns about high government debt levels in the U.S. and elsewhere, as it follows its investment mandate. The fund is responsible ‌for investing the Norwegian state’s revenues from oil and gas production in bonds, stocks, property and unlisted renewable energy projects outside its home country.

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Skatteboe joins KONGSBERG and Indregard takes over as CEO of KSAT

Business News, Defense / Security, Technology

Indregard has been with KSAT for more than 20 years, and has spent over a decade in top executive roles where she has led various interdisciplinary and multinational teams

She brings extensive knowledge of the space domain, combining technical insight with operational experience, strategic leadership, and international commercial focus.

– It is an honor to take over the baton from Rolf. KSAT is a global company managed from Northern Norway, and in today’s world, the role the company plays makes a real difference, which is highly motivating. We have skilled employees who deliver services that the world needs, says Marte Indregard.

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Desert Control AS (DSRT): Structural Water Constraints Reinforce the Importance of Sustainable Soil and Water Efficiency

Business News, Chemicals / Metals

Sandnes, 21 January 2026 – Desert Control AS (DSRT) notes recent international research, including a report released this week by the United Nations University on global water constraints, highlighting growing pressures on global water systems. Scientific assessments increasingly point to structural constraints on water availability driven by climate change, groundwater depletion, and rising demand from agriculture and urban development.

While the severity and timing of water stress vary significantly by region, the broader direction underscores the need to move beyond short-term crisis responses and toward long-term adaptation strategies. Improving water efficiency and soil performance is becoming an essential component of sustainable land and agricultural management.

Desert Control’s technology is designed to address these challenges by improving soil structure and increasing water-holding capacity, enabling more efficient use of available water resources. These outcomes are particularly relevant in agriculture, which remains the largest global consumer of freshwater. These challenges are particularly pronounced in sandy, fast-draining soils, where limited water retention increases vulnerability under increasingly constrained water conditions.

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AmCham Defense Forum: Uncertainty Becomes Certainty

AmCham News

AmCham Defense Forum: Uncertainty Becomes Certainty

In collaboration with the US Commercial Service, AmCham hosted the first Defense Forum of the year at Thon Hotel Opera, welcoming distinguished speakers State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen and Shield AI’s Chris Brinkley. Centering on enduring relationships, the forum focused on industry collaboration, rapid innovation and adaptation, and allied inter-operability.

Ragnhild Dalen, AmCham Norway

State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen underscored the critical role of cooperation amongst allied nations in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment. She highlighted Norway’s long‑term defense priorities, noting that by 2036 the defense budget will have doubled, enabling modernization and strengthened capabilities. This trajectory is reinforced by deepening Nordic and Baltic cooperation, accelerated by Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO, and a renewed focus on interoperability across the Alliance.

Gerhardsen also emphasized the importance of strong transatlantic ties, both politically and industrially, noting that close cooperation across the Atlantic remains essential for capability development, technology sharing, and collective security. She further underscored the need for regulatory frameworks that allow for agility and adaptation in an era of rapid technological change, while ensuring legal and ethical safeguards remain central.

State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen

Trust, Shared Values, & Industrial Complementarity

Chris Brinkley, Head of Europe and Africa at Shield AI, presented the company’s mission to protect service members and civilians through intelligent autonomous systems. Shield AI opened its Oslo office in 2025, noting that their expansion to Norway reflects the high level of trust, shared values, and industrial complementarity between US and Norwegian defense partners. Brinkley then introduced Hivemind, Shield AI’s AI pilot designed to enable mission autonomy in contested and communications‑denied environments. Hivemind allows uncrewed aircraft to navigate, collaborate, and execute complex missions without GPS or remote operators, functioning as an “AI wingman.”

Brinkley also highlighted Shield AI’s newest aircraft, the X‑BAT, a vertical‑takeoff stealth jet capable of long‑range, runway‑independent operations. Designed to operate from ships, remote islands, or austere bases, X‑BAT combines VTOL performance with internal and external weapons carriage and a full‑spectrum sensor suite and is powered by Hivemind for fully autonomous operation.
Together, the speakers underscored that in an era where uncertainty is the only constant, strong alliances and adaptive frameworks are essential.

Chris Brinkley, Shield AI
Ragnhild Dalen, Marte Gerhardsen, Chris Brinkley

About the AmCham Defense Forum

In partnership with the US Commercial Service, the Defense Forum supports US defense industry partners in Norway. Key Patron-level and defense industry representatives gather quarterly to forge enhanced public-private sector collaboration – sharing insights, developments, and trends to secure long-term transatlantic bonds.

 Please contact amcham@amcham.no for interest in future meetings.

 

AmCham Defense Forum: Perspectives on US and Norwegian Naval Capabilities and Requirements

May 6, 2025 No Comments

In collaboration with the US Commercial Service, AmCham’s second Defense Forum of the year was hosted Vila Otium, where participants were welcomed by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy Oslo, Robert S. Needham. The session featured distinguished speakers Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Commander of the Norwegian Fleet, and Admiral James G. Foggo, U.S. Navy (ret.), Dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy, Navy League of the United States.

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