he was born in leikanger and grew up in årdal, and graduated from the norwegian school of economics and business administration with a "siviløkonom" degree in 1971. he then worked in høyanger and vik works from 1971 to 1982, in åsv foredling from 1982 to 1983, in norwegian petroleum consultants from 1983 to 1987, in his own consultant firm from 1987 and then in norwegian state railways from 1992 to 1994 as a sub-director. he became county governor of sogn og fjordane in 1994. he retired in 2011.