GOING ON THE DEFENSE: Kåre Geir Lio believes it is not unproblematic that he, as one hundred percent free handball president, also works for Nordnorsk Lederutvikling. Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG
Kåre Geir Lio knew that the Norwegian Handball Association bought services from his company. But didn’t realize it was wrong. He believes his confidence as handball president is under attack. The 70-year-old has no plans to end his double job.
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Handball president Kåre Geir Lio has received criticism through TV 2’s cases after the Norwegian Handball Association bought services from his own company, Nordnorsk Lederutvikling. He admits that this is problematic, but says he did not understand this when it was done. Lio earns between NOK 1.2 and 1.6 million annually from his work at NNL. This is in addition to the roughly equal presidential salary he receives in the NHF. He has also tested the personalities of all new board members in the handball association. It has also led to criticism. The 70-year-old has no plans to retire before the election period ends in 2025. Show more
It has stormed around Lio after the last week. TV 2 has published several critical cases about Kåre Geir Lio and the Norwegian Handball Association.
Four times, NHF has purchased services from Lio’s “own” foundation Nordnorsk Lederutvikling. The channel has reported that Lio – despite the fact that he has been bought out for the job as NHF president – still earns a salary of millions annually in this company.
TV 2 has also told the story that the handball president ran tests of the personality of all new board members.
– Not the funnest thing I’ve experienced as handball president. I have always tried to do the best for Norwegian handball. Now I am in a situation where that is not the case. I have to live with that as the leader of a large organisation, says the president of Norway’s second largest special association.
– Is trust breaking loose for you as handball president?
– All negative reports challenge faith and trust. At the same time, I hope that people listen to the information they receive from various parts of the handball organisation, and that they dare to continue to have confidence in this handball president.
Kåre Geir Lio has no thoughts of retiring. He informs VG that he already announced in 2022 that this will be his last term as handball president. He will therefore resign from the federal parliament in two years.
– I have previously only said this to the selection committee and the board of the NHF. Now it comes out. But it’s not because of this here, clarifies Lio.
TOUGH CRITICISM: Kåre Geir Lio (right) and general secretary Erik Langerud face tough criticism for the handball association’s use of Nordnorsk Lederutvikling. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB
– You were managing director of Nordnorsk lederutvikling (NNL) and handball president in 2016. Did you know that NHF also conducted a personality test at your company?
– Yes, I knew about that.
– Why didn’t you stop it?
– At the time, I was working at NNL and served as a shop steward at NHF. I don’t think it could be a problem at all. But I follow Erik Langerud’sErik Langerud’s handball association’s general secretary assessment and believe that it was unfortunate.
– Could this conflict with the NHF’s statutory section number 10 on competence?
– I see that it can be used like this. Erik’s intention was to do something safe, efficient and cheap. So I see that this is problematic. I am glad that Erik has had an open dialogue with the control committee about that matter.
– Did you take the initiative for the Handball Association to use your company?
– No I did not do that.
The handball president meets VG at Helsfyr in Oslo. The blue shirt is unbuttoned, the glasses are on, the gaze is sharpened.
The telemarketer, originally trained as a teacher, lives on Kjerringøy outside Bodø, but after the interview will move on to his 93-year-old father in Dalen.
He has faced tough criticism from sports law expert Gunnar Martin Kjenner, TV 2 commentator Mina Finstad Berg and VG’s Leif Welhaven, who believe the case is a “crisis for handball”.
Info
Dear Geir Lio
President of the Norwegian Handball Association since 2015. Has worked in a one hundred percent position as president since 2017. Former coach for the Bodø club Junkeren in the elite series.
Qualified assistant professor from the University of Bergen and Telemark University College. Has since 1997 worked with the development of managers, organizations and employees in Nordnorsk Lederutvikling. Former CEO. Still working for the company.
sea view
– What does the criticism mean for the handball association’s credibility and reputation?
– It’s more fun with praise than criticism. All of these have their work to look at the sport from all angles. I recognize that they have this role and understand that such criticism may come. It’s something I have to live with. As leaders, we have to live with the mistakes we make.
– When you were bought free as handball president in 2017, wasn’t it the intention that you should not continue in your old job?
– It was decided that the handball president should be bought out. In this situation, I felt that I had to step down as director of NNL. I did that. I left a job that I had found to be very interesting, and then I asked the board if I could be given a number of assignments. I wanted to stay warm and be in that arena at the same time as I fulfilled my duties as handball president. I got it into my agreement, and I’ve dealt with that afterwards.
– There is nothing in the decision from the handball parliament in 2017 that you will continue in North Norwegian Leadership Development?
– The court decision was more general. The contract was entered into by the board.
– So your contract is dealt with by the board in the handball association?
– Yes.
– How much time have you spent on your civilian job annually while you have been handball president?
– I think you must interview Berit, she at home. I use all my time for the best for handball. If I have time to spare, I also do leadership development. In sum, this amounts to a terrible number of working days. People probably don’t think so. But Berit knows that I work all the time and am very rarely at home.
Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG
– You yourself have informed TV 2 that you work an average of 35 days a year for Nordnorsk Lederutvikling?
– The number of assignment days for NNL has been 35. On these days, I have also done handball work morning, noon and evening, when it has been necessary. Team meetings, press – and other inquiries. Some of the working days (for NNL) have been à la a lecture, while others have been process work which has given me between four and six hours at my disposal to do other things.
– TV 2 states that you have earned NOK 1.2 to 1.6 million annually from this. It may appear well paid for 35 days at work?
– It is well paid. I get that people are stumped, but this is what people have paid me to do. My remuneration consists of salary, benefits, such as a free car, from the handball association. I also get a pension. And then comes what I earn in NNL.
– Will you continue to work for Nordnorsk Lederutvikling after this?
– I adhere to the agreement that applies at all times with the board of the Handball Association. The most important thing for me is that I do my job as Norwegian handball president. A working year has a certain scope. There are many people who do things in addition. I deal with leadership development. I enjoy and benefit from it, and the work I do for NHF.
BRUKTE HERGEIRSSON: According to TV 2, Kåre Geir Lio has also engaged national team manager Thorir Hergeirsson as a speaker in Nordnorsk Lederutvikling. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB
– Do you understand that waffle makers around Handball-Norway, who may be struggling to pay the NHF licence, react to the fact that you earn three million kroner a year?
– Salaries in Norway are very difficult. I think teachers and nurses earn too little. (Viktor) Hovland earns too much. (Erling Braut) Haaland earns well. Of course I earn a lot. But I hope I will be assessed and evaluated in relation to the work I do in the Norwegian Handball Association. Then I have a job in addition, which I also earn money from. It could have been property development or stock speculation. I don’t do that. I do regular work. So I hope people can tell the difference.
– What do you do if you get a client in North Norwegian leadership development who has intersecting interests with Norwegian handball?
– I have checked that back to 2015. It has not been.
– Have you tried to get your customer lists released?
– These are Nordnorsk Lederutvikling’s customer lists. I have nothing to hide, but I respect that they don’t want to release them.
– Have you informed the control committee of the NHF about this?
– I have not been asked by it nor the board of the handball association. It is natural that the board will take this up at the meeting in Lillehammer next week. I have no problems informing the board internally, if NNL thinks it is right.
– Do you understand that it can be difficult for members of the Norwegian Handball Association not to know who you have worked for at the same time as you have been full-time handball president?
– I can understand that. But I have a very clear conscience that there are neat interfaces between leadership development tasks and the work in Norwegian handball.
– Can the 135,000 members of the Norwegian Handball Association trust that you are exclusively working for the good of Norwegian handball?
– Yes.
– What is the reason for you personality testing the board of the handball association?
– Firstly, it is important that we are a good team. Secondly, that the board has a clear division of labor. Thirdly, that there is a high ceiling on the board, that everyone feels well looked after, and that everyone gets to say what they want to say. We want to take the discussions in the boardroom. Not out in the corridors. The board has developed incredibly well, claims Lio and believes there has been exclusively positive feedback.
According to TV 2, former vice president Ole Jørstad said no to being tested. He is now a board member of the Norwegian Sports Association.
– He said at the time that he did not have time to answer. That race was over. He joined the professional review like everyone else.
– Does the rest of the board also have access to a personality test from you?
– Yes, yes. Of course.
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Published: 02.09.23 at 10:40 am
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2023-09-02 08:40:28
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