Sigve Brekke: The political corporate chief

He’s made the transition from politics to the corporate world as seamlessly as, well, a mobile call from cell tower to cell tower. But perhaps his earlier vocation could come in handy has he charts a course through the regulatory minefield of India’s telecom sector.

That’s because Sigve Brekke takes charge as managing director of Uninor, a joint venture with Unitech wherein Norway’s Telenor Group holds majority stake of 67.25 per cent. He was previously executive vice-President of the Telenor Group and head of Telenor’s Asia operations.

Brekke certainly has his work cut out for him. Uninor is a newbie among mobile service providers and holds a pan-India UAS license to offer mobile telephony services. It has already received spectrum to roll out services in 21 of the 22 circles.

Brekke served as the deputy minister (state secretary) in Norway’s Ministry of Defence from 1993 to 1996. He also held several positions in the Norwegian Labour Party and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions.

Brekke joined Telenor, Singapore, in 1999 as manager-business development and, later, went on to become managing director. He was also an associate research fellow at John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Brekke holds a master’s in public administration from John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, a bachelor’s degree in management from Norwegian School of Management, Buskerud, and a bachelor’s in business and administration from the Telemark College, Norway.