Ole Kristian Ruud (born 2 October 1958) is a Norwegian conductor.
He studied clarinet with Richard Kjelstrup at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
He studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy and made his debut in Oslo with the National theater.
In 1999, he became one of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra's artistic directors, specializing in Norwegian repertoire.
In 1992, he was awarded the Grieg Prize, and in 1993 conducted Edvard Grieg's complete incidental music to Peer Gynt with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London's Royal Festival Hall.