Quick Facts
Biography
Øystein Olsen (born 8 January 1952) is a Norwegian public servant, and since January 1, 2011 Governor of the Central Bank of Norway, succeeding Svein Gjedrem in that position.
Olsen is cand.oecon. from the University of Oslo in 1977
Olsen came to the Central Bank governor position from his previous rank as Managing Director of Statistics Norway (SSB). He took on this position from January 1, 2005, succeeding Svein Longva. The SSB position is a fixed term of six years. He has also previously worked in SSB as researcher, senior researcher, and head of the Oil and energy group from 1977 to 1990. After a year in ECON, Center for Economic Analysis, Olsen returned to the SSB as research director in the years 1991 to 1994. From 1996 to 1999 he was appointed as research director and head of the research department in the same place. From 1999 until he became director of the SSB, he was deputy secretary in the Economics Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Finance.
From 1993 to 1998 he was professor II at Norwegian School of Management.
Before he became Central Bank Governor, he was a board member of the University of Oslo for two years.