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Norwegian reportedly starting search for new chief executive

The board of low-cost carrier Norwegian is reported locally as starting to look for a potential replacement for Bjorn Kjos as chief executive when the 72-year-old steps down.

Potential successors include Hurtigruten boss Daniel Skjeldam, as well as Kjos’s daughter and pilot, Anna Helene Kjos, according to Norwegian newspaper Nettavisen.

Nettavisen said Kjos feels he has been running on “overtime” and that he hopes he won’t still be chief executive three years from now.

Kjos has been chief executive since he founded Norwegian Air in 2002.

The chief executive also addressed speculation that his company might be acquired, saying Norwegian has never said it is looking for a buyer, Bloomberg reported.

British Airways owner International Airlines Group took a minority stake in Norwegian earlier this year but chief executive Willie Walsh ruled out a hostile takeover.

Speculation of an acquisition has helped drive Norwegian’s share price up by about 46% this year.

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