Born in Oslo, he was hired as a journalist in Dagbladet in 1995, and later became chief editor from 2003 to 2006.

He was a member of the central board of their youth wing Socialist Youth, worked as a personal advisor for then-party leader Erik Solheim and worked as secretary for Raymond Johansen when the latter was Oslo city commissioner for transport and the environment.

He terminated his membership in the Labour Party when he was appointed director-General of NRK.

[5] He was appointed Director-General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation on 11 December 2012[6] and started in the position on 12 March 2013.

[8] His successor, Vibeke Fürst Haugen, was nominated on 17 March 2022 and became the first woman to hold the position.