Kjetil Siem

Kjetil Person Siem (born 29 September 1960) is a Norwegian businessperson, journalist, author and sports official.

Early life and education

He was born on a small farm in Gjerdset in Rauma, Norway. His father was a farmer and his family was involved in sheep-raising and forestry. He was educated as a drama-teacher specializing in theater.^[1] He helped start the local annual Mountain Festival in Rauma in 1998.^[2]

Professional career

Sports journalist

He started out as a sports journalist, first in Aftenposten and later as a reporter covering sports for TV 2.^[3][2]

In 1997 he founded the website-based company Sportsprofiler (later Icons), who at one time developed web-pages up to 80 percent of top football players in Norway, England and Germany. The same year he authored the football books Proff i England ("Professional in England"), and Æ, a biography of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, in 1998.

Norwegian soccer

In 2001 he was hired as director of football in the Oslo club Vålerenga Fotball, and from 2003 to 2005 he was worked as the managing director. During his tenure with the club Vålerenga won both silver and gold medals as well as making economic profit. He was director in Norsk Toppfotball from 2006 to 2007

South African soccer

Siem started in 1994 the Soccer against crime project in Cape Town, South Africa and has since been involved in helping deprived communities.

Siem was hired as chief executive of the South African Premier Soccer League in 2007. His tenure coincided with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and he was among other things responsible for the opening match at Soccer City stadium.^[1] In 2012 he was appointed Secretary-General for the Football Association of Norway, replacing Paul Glomsaker. He immediately began a campaign to improve fair-play within Norwegian football, he introduced the Handshake for peace in which the two teams captains makes an obligatory handshake at the final whistle, this was in cooperation with the Nobel Peace Center.

Norway football presidency

Between 2012 and 2016, Siem was Secretary-general of the Football Association of Norway.^[3] This ended in 2016 after the association had publicized the excessive amount of travel expenses Siem had caused the organization.^[4]

FIFA advisor

Along with Zvonimir Boban, Siem was hired by FIFA in May of 2016 to join president Gianni Infantino's management team, specifically to become strategy advisor.^[5] This ended in 2019.

Back in Norwegian affairs

In 2019 he joined the commercial TV 2 Group as advisor.^[6]

In 2023 he became director of the executive board of the afore mentioned Vålerenga Fotball soccer team in Oslo, which was subsequently relegated from the Eliteserien.^[7]

Bibliography

• 1997 - Profesjonell i EngPland (Professional in England)
• 1998 - Æ : A biography of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, ISBN 82-91769-52-4
• 2008 - Begynner på P, ISBN 82-48907-68-6

References

1. Eiriksrud Hansen, Ole Johnny (April 2012). "- Jeg var sjokkerende naiv" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen.no. Archived from the original on 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
2. Gjelstenli, Ivar (2010-12-22). "Kjetil Siem årets rauma ambassadør". Romsdals Budstikke (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2012-04-28.
3. "Kjetil Siem". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 17 July 2012.
4. Her er Siems reiseregninger in nrk.no on 31 March 2016.
5. Norwegian who called Sepp Blatter ‘a role model’ appointed Fifa’s head of strategy in theguardian.com on 18 May 2016.
6. Kjetil Siem blir TV2-rådgiver, kampanje.com on 14 June 2019.
7. KJETIL SIEM NY STYRELEDER I VÅLERENGA: − TRØIM ØNSKET Å TRE TILBAKE, in VG on 4 August 2023.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Kai-Erik Arstad (acting)	Secretary-general of the Football Association of Norway 2012–present	Incumbent