Norway’s telecom industry sits at the heart of national resilience. As 5G expands, cloud adoption accelerates, and regulatory frameworks like NIS2 tighten expectations, the role of cybersecurity leadership has never been more critical. The country’s largest telecom operators are not just service providers; they are custodians of national digital infrastructure.
This spotlight on leading CISOs in Norway’s telecom sector highlights security executives and senior leaders shaping strategy, governance, and operational resilience across the industry. Some hold the formal CISO title, while others operate as Heads of Security or CSOs, but all are influential figures in Norway’s cybersecurity landscape.
André Spantell — Security Manager & CISO, Telia Norge
With more than 27 years at Telia, André Spantell brings deep institutional knowledge and telecom-specific expertise to his role as Security Manager and CISO. He oversees cyber, network, and information security across the Norwegian business, combining operational security leadership with regulatory execution.
Spantell has extensive experience implementing the Norwegian Security Act and managing incident response, risk assessments, and security awareness programs. His long tenure in telecom fraud, risk management, and international team leadership positions him as one of the most seasoned CISOs in Norway’s telecom ecosystem.
Henrik Strøm — Head of Security Strategy, Telenor
As Head of Security Strategy at Telenor, Henrik Strøm plays a central role in shaping long-term security direction for one of the Nordics’ most influential telecom groups. While he does not hold the formal CISO title, his impact on strategic security planning is significant.
Strøm’s work focuses on aligning security initiatives with evolving threats, regulatory requirements, and business transformation. In a sector where digital trust is paramount, strategic foresight is as critical as operational defense, and Strøm operates squarely at that intersection.
Thomas Gudmundsen — Head of Information Security, Telenor (Telenor Shared Services)
Thomas Gudmundsen represents a modern breed of telecom security leader who is equally fluent in governance frameworks and hands-on cloud architecture. As Head of Information Security at Telenor Shared Services, he works closely with executive leadership to advance enterprise-wide security maturity.
With more than 20 years in IT and cybersecurity, Gudmundsen’s expertise spans governance, risk, compliance, Microsoft 365 and Azure environments, and ISO-aligned security management systems. Holding certifications including CISSP and ISO 27001 credentials, alongside 30+ Microsoft certifications, he bridges policy and implementation with rare depth. His leadership reflects a standards-driven, Zero Trust-oriented approach increasingly central to Norway’s telecom cybersecurity strategy.
Bjørn R. Watne — Global CISO, INTERPOL (Former CSO, Telenor)
Bjørn R. Watne is no longer based in Norway’s telecom sector, but his influence remains highly relevant. After serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Telenor Group, where he led global information and physical security, fraud prevention, and crisis management across multiple markets, Watne has since moved to international leadership as Global CISO at INTERPOL.
With over 20 years in cyber and information security, much of it within critical infrastructure and heavily regulated industries, Watne’s career reflects the global reach of Norwegian security leadership. His trajectory underscores how CISOs in Norway’s telecom environment often develop expertise that translates onto the international stage.
Why Norway’s Telecom Security Leaders Matter More Than Ever
The telecom sector underpins everything from financial systems to emergency response. As threat actors grow more sophisticated and regulatory expectations tighten, Norway’s telecom security leaders are redefining what resilience looks like, not just protecting networks, but shaping governance, culture, and long-term digital trust.
For readers tracking the evolving landscape of cybersecurity leadership, this profile complements our broader list of CISOs to watch, where we highlight executives influencing security strategy across industries and geographies.
In a world where infrastructure is increasingly digital, the role of telecom CISOs in Norway will only grow in strategic importance, and these leaders are at the forefront of that transformation.