he joined the liberal party in 1973, was deputy chair of the young liberals of norway and was named by them as the liberal party's representative in oslo port authority; he has chaired the board since 1999. he also chaired oslo sporveier from 2006 to 2007 and ruter from 2012. from 1999 to 2000 he was a member of the committee on defence policy named by bondevik's first cabinet. he has also been a board member of "dagbladet".