Kjetil Hestdal, President and CEO

Kjetil Hestdal, MD, Ph.D., born 1960, has served as President and CEO since January 2005. Dr. Hestdal held the position as Vice President Research and Development from January 1997 and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in October 2004. Before joining Photocure, Dr Hestdal served as the Project Manager/Medical Expert at Sandoz (now Novartis) and as Senior Scientist at Rikshospitalet. Dr Hestdal holds a Ph.D. in immunology.

Dr Kjetil Hestdal holds directly or indirectly 158,873 shares in Photocure. In addition he holds 92,081 share options in the company.

Christian Fekete, Chief Financial Officer

Christian Fekete, born 1961, joined the company in November 2004. He holds an MBA from the Kenan Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, USA and an Academy Diploma from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. Mr. Fekete has held several leading positions within finance and business development, more recently as Director of KPMG Corporate Finance, Director of Business Development in Thrane-Gruppen and Finance Director in various Coca-Cola companies. He is deputy chairman of Medi-Stim ASA, a publicly listed medical technology company.

Christian Fekete holds 4,200 shares in Photocure. He holds 62,190 share options in the company. 

Grete Hogstad, Vice President Marketing and Sales

Grete Hogstad, born 1956, joined Photocure in February 2005. She has a degree in pharmacy from the University of Oslo, as well as a business degree from the Norwegian School of Management. She has held various leading positions in Marketing and Sales in Alpharma and Novo Nordisk Pharma, and is a founding member of the Generics Association in Norway. Mrs. Hogstad comes from the position as Director Sales and Marketing for Norway, Sweden and Finland in Alpharma.

Grete Hogstad holds 4,000 shares in Photocure. She holds 59,990 share options in the company.

Inger Ferner Heglund, Vice President Research and Development

Inger Ferner Heglund, born 1955, joined Photocure in 2006 as Director, Business Relations and was appointed Vice President Research and Develeopment from January 2007. She has a degree in physiology from the University of Oslo and extensive experience within R&D. She has held various leadership positions in preclinical development and project management in GE Healthcare. Mrs Heglund comes from a position as Global Project Director in GE Healthcare.

Inger Ferner Heglund holds no shares in Photocure. She holds 44,8750 share options in the company.

Kjell Erik Nordby, Vice President Business Development

Kjell Erik Nordby, born 1957, joined the company in April 2007. He holds an MBA of Honor from the Norwegian School of Management, a degree in International Marketing from the Norwegian School of Management and a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Oslo. Mr. Nordby has held several leading positions in R&D, S&M and Business Development in the pharmaceutical industry , more recently as Vice President Sales & Marketing North Europe Region in Alpaharma AS, Senior Director Business Development and Project Portfolio Management Alpharma API Division.

Kjell Erik Nordby holds no shares in Photocure. He holds 50,000 share options in the company.