Equinor names high-powered energy trader CEO head of gas and power business

Helle Østergaard Kristiansen, the world’s first female chief executive in the energy trading sector at Equinor subsidiary Danske Commodities (DC), says she is ’stepping up’ into the role of senior vice president for gas & power at Equinor.

"I’ve made one of the biggest decisions of my career. I’m stepping down as chief executive of Danske Commodities and stepping up as senior vice president for gas & power at Equinor, one of the world’s largest energy companies and the parent company of DC. In this capacity, I will also become chair of DC’s board of directors," Ms Kristiansen said in a post on business social media platform LinkedIn.

Equinor acquired Danske Commodities in 2019 for €400M (US$460M) from founder Henrik Lind, and quickly named the company’s long-serving chief financial officer Ms Kristiansen as chief executive.

In her new role at Danske Commodities parent company Equinor, Ms Kristiansen said she will be responsible for all power and gas trading activities globally.

As she takes "the lead of an energy portfolio that is crucial to European security of supply," Ms Kristiansen said "That is an important responsibility, which I look forward to taking on together with Equinor’s global marketing and trading teams". 

Ms Kristiansen praised Danske Commodities’ staff in her announcement of her new role.

"It’s impossible to express all I want to say about my amazing years with DC, but for now I’ll say that I see my new responsibility as a tremendous recognition of the entire DC organisation. I’m very proud of what we’ve built together, and I look forward to being part of DC’s continued growth journey as board chair," she said. 

Ms Kristiansen is set to begin the job of senior vice president for gas & power at Equinor on 1 October 2025.