He was born in Ørsta as a son of Sigurd Ekornes (1906–) and Margit Helene Pedersen (1912–1983).
He rose in the hierarchy to become chief executive, except for a period between 1987 and 1990 when he tried to start ventures of his own in Ålesund.
[2] Ekornes was a member of the central board of the Conservative Party until 2006.
He served in Møre og Romsdal county council from 1999 to 2003[3] and was a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Møre og Romsdal during the term 2001–2005.
[5] He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 2005, but wanted to share the honor with every one of his employees.