For those who don’t know you well — who is Trond Magnar Unhammer?

I’d describe myself as a down-to-earth, people-oriented leader who believes the best results come from working as a team. I like being close to the business, listening to colleagues and understanding what is actually happening in our factories, our offices and our markets. What motivates me is seeing people succeed together, and helping build an environment where everyone can contribute and develop.

What is your background?

I’m an engineer by training, with business administration on top. My career has taken me through some very different worlds: theatre, the steel industry, and a number of roles within NorDan. That mix has given me an understanding of both our own business and the wider industry, and I’m grateful for it as I step into this role.

When did you join NorDan, and what roles have you held?

I joined in 2015 as factory manager at Moi. After three good years there I became Managing Director of NorDan AS. Those years gave me valuable insight into our products, our customers, our people and our operations. Now I’m genuinely looking forward to taking on the role of CEO of NorDan Group.

How do you spend your time outside work?

With family and friends. I like being active, whether that is mountain biking, training in general, or simply being out in nature. And I enjoy a good dinner in good company. Those things help me recharge, and they give me room to reflect.

You have spent many years in NorDan. What first attracted you, and what has kept you here?

What attracted me was NorDan’s strong reputation, its long history, and the combination of being family-owned and international at the same time. What has kept me here is the people. Throughout my years in the company I have been inspired by the competence, the dedication and the positive attitude I meet every day across the organisation, and among our owners. NorDan has always been a company that dares to think long-term, invest in improvement and adapt to change, while staying true to its values.

What makes you most proud when you think about NorDan today?

Our culture. We have built a company where people, innovation, sustainability and teamwork go hand in hand. Across all our markets I see colleagues who take pride in what they do and who are genuinely committed to delivering value for our customers — with a big smile. That is a strong foundation for the future.

NorDan is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year. What do you think has been the key to that?

The willingness of our owners, and our ability to keep improving while staying true to who we are. For 100 years NorDan has adapted to new customer needs, new technologies and changing markets. We have never stood still, and I believe that combination of stability and appetite for change has been essential to our success.

It is also worth noting that the year NorDan was established was a year of crisis. Unemployment was at a record high, bankruptcies were soaring, and the Norwegian construction industry was virtually on its knees. Maybe that has stayed with us through all these years.

The years behind the appointment

Unhammer led NorDan AS through one of the most volatile periods the Norwegian construction market has seen in decades. Revenue grew from NOK 1.29 billion in 2018 to NOK 2.14 billion in 2025, an increase of 66 per cent, and the Norwegian business passed two billion kroner in revenue for the first time in its history.

That growth was delivered into a shrinking home market. Norway issued 37 per cent fewer housing permits in 2024 than in 2022, and housing completions in 2025 fell to 19,498 units, the lowest level since 2010. NorDan AS held revenue broadly stable through the sharpest years of the downturn, at around NOK 1.97 billion from 2022 to 2024, and then grew 8.8 per cent in 2025. Operating margins narrowed over the same period, from 7.0 per cent in 2018 to 2.8 per cent in 2025, as volumes across the industry tightened and costs rose.

The period also included the largest single investment in the Moi factory in recent history: more than NOK 100 million announced in 2023, including a robot-operated AutoStore warehouse.

What are the most important values you bring into your leadership?

Trust, openness and accountability. I believe people perform at their best when they know what is expected, feel trusted, and experience that their voice matters. I also believe clear communication and a strong sense of teamwork are critical for achieving results together. As leaders, we must create direction, support development, and lead by example.

As CEO, what will be your main focus?

Making sure NorDan continues to develop as a strong, profitable and sustainable company. We must stay close to our customers, strengthen our competitiveness, keep improving our operations, and create a workplace where people thrive and perform. At the same time we need to prepare the company for the opportunities and challenges ahead in an increasingly dynamic market.

It is also important to me that going to work is fun. We spend a lot of time with our colleagues — let’s enjoy it.

What opportunities do you see ahead for NorDan?

I see significant opportunities in using AI, in sustainability and innovation, and in closer collaboration across the Group. Demand for energy-efficient and sustainable building solutions will continue to grow, and NorDan is well positioned to play an important role in that development. In some markets we have a real opportunity to take share.

By combining our strong heritage with new technology, expertise and collaboration, I believe we have every opportunity to improve profitability, strengthen our position, and create value for customers, employees and society in the years ahead.

Trust, openness, teamwork

The values Unhammer describes reflect the principles that have guided NorDan since its founding: honesty, results driven, action orientated, and a people focused. Sustainable joined the set of core values later, reflecting new expectations and challenges. Together, they are bound by Perfekt Samspill – a guiding principle that has always been about more than the fit of a window frame.

About NorDan Group

NorDan was founded at Moi in Norway in 1926 and is still family-owned. From two people in a small workshop, the Group has grown into a leading window and door manufacturer with around 2,650 employees, a business presence in nine countries and group revenue of NOK 5.5 billion in 2025. The Group celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2026.