New CEO at Volvo Ocean Race
February 18, 2008 0 comments
Norwegian round-the-world specialist Knut Frostad chosen.
Norwegian round-the-world specialist Knut Frostad has been appointed as CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Frostad, 40, will officially take up his position at race headquarters in Fareham, England on 3rd March.
Frostad said he was looking forward to the challenge of taking the helm of the world’s most prestigious ocean race. “The Whitbread/Volvo has been part of my life for 15 years so this is a dream job for me in many ways,” he said.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity but I’m also humbled by the challenge of taking responsibility for organising the premier round the world yacht race.
“The 2008-09 race has the biggest course and route change in the event’s history which makes it a great adventure. It is going to be very exciting for us as race organisers, the participating teams, the ports, the sponsors. We have a wonderful opportunity to engage the general public in these new territories in the spectacle of the race.
“The 2008-09 race is pretty much laid out. My job is to ensure that the race is organised expertly and that we have the most successful and exciting race possible as we continue the event’s evolution. The team in place in race headquarters is experienced and professional which will ensure a seamless transition.”
Frostad succeeds Glenn Bourke who departed the role in January after five years in charge.
Frostad’s links with the Whitbread/Volvo date back to the 1993-94 race when he was helmsman on the second-placed Intrum Justitia.
He was skipper and project founder/director on Innovation Kvaerner in the 1997-98 Whitbread and on Djuice Dragons in the 2001-02 Volvo. In 2005-06 he was watch leader and technical advisor with Brasil 1.
Frostad, born in Harstad, Norway, has carved out successful career in both sailing and business. He campaigned for the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 as a board sailor and represented Norway in the Flying Dutchman class in Barcelona in 1992.
His other sailing experience encompasses an array of offshore projects including 60ft trimarans. He has also won the Sydney-Hobart as helmsman/co-skipper in 1994 and 2000.
Frostad said he has taken learnings from sporting competition into the business sector. He started a company – The Human Element – with some partners in 2004 in Scandinavia which focuses on developing effective teamwork in a business environment.
“The philosophy of The Human Element is to ensure that a team of people in the workplace interacts and works well together in an efficient way. That’s something I actually picked up when I started skippering boats in the Whitbread/Volvo.”
He is also a motivational speaker, writer and published author. His book “Responsible For The Irresponsible” chronicles his team’s exploits in the 1997-98 Whitbread.
Frostad sees the organisation of the race as an extension of that on-board team dynamic.
“The Volvo separates itself from many of the other sailing events by the fact that it is a teamwork event and you have to be very skilled at working with people,” he said.
“It’s the expertise of many people coming together as one to successfully manage the event. I’m really looking forward to that aspect of the job.
“I am especially grateful that I did part of the last race with the new Volvo Open 70 class. It gave me a good understanding of what the sailors have to go through with these new boats and the importance for them to know that the event is organised in a very professional manner in terms of safety and sporting regulation.”
