Our Team
Management Team
Custos Maritime & Defence is led by an experienced management team with deep expertise in maritime operations, investment banking, and corporate law, supported by a distinguished board of advisors with decades of industry experience.
Per Olav Karlsen
Chief Executive Officer
Per Olav Karlsen is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Custos Maritime & Defence. With over four decades of experience in ship-owning, ship management, shipbroking, maritime finance and investment banking, Per Olav brings unparalleled expertise in identifying, structuring, and executing transactions within the maritime sector.
Prior to founding Custos, Per Olav served as CEO and Owner of Cleaves Securities, where he built a leading maritime-focused investment banking platform. Earlier in his career, he held the position of Managing Director at Fearnley Finans and served as President of RS Platou (S) Pte Ltd in Singapore, establishing deep relationships across global maritime markets. He has also served as Chairman of Aries Maritime Transport Ltd, gaining valuable experience in vessel operations and strategic governance.
Education: MSc in Business Management & Economics, Copenhagen Business School
Kenneth Hjertum
Chief Financial Officer
Kenneth Hjertum serves as Chief Financial Officer of Custos Maritime & Defence, overseeing all financial operations, transaction execution, and performance management across the portfolio. Kenneth brings extensive experience in investment banking, management consulting, and operational finance leadership.
Prior to joining Custos, Kenneth was a Management Consultant at OPX Partners, where he focused on M&A advisory and operational improvement programs. Before that, he served in investment banking roles at Houlihan Lokey in Chicago, advising middle-market companies on complex restructuring and M&A transactions. Kenneth has also held management consulting positions at Cardo Partners and operational leadership roles including Country Manager and CFO at Cary Group, where he gained valuable experience in driving operational performance and managing P&L responsibility.
Education: Bachelor of Finance and Accounting, Kelley School of Business, Indiana (USA)
Anders Pind
Chief Legal Officer
Anders Pind serves as Chief Legal Officer of Custos Maritime & Defence, responsible for all legal matters including transaction structuring, contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance across the platform. Anders brings extensive experience in corporate law, M&A transactions, and maritime legal matters.
Prior to joining Custos, Anders was a Partner and Lawyer at Thommessen, one of Norway’s leading corporate law firms, where he advised clients on complex M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, and commercial disputes. He previously served as Head of Legal at Cleaves Securities, where he worked closely with Per Olav Karlsen and gained specialized expertise in maritime finance transactions and regulatory frameworks. Earlier in his career, Anders practiced at Ryger Advokatfirma and served as a Legal Researcher at the Norwegian Supreme Court, developing deep expertise in Norwegian corporate law and judicial processes.
Education: Master of Law (Cand.jur.), University of Bergen
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors provides strategic guidance, industry expertise, and valuable networks to support Custos’ growth and value creation objectives.
Dagfinn Lunde
Chairman
Dagfinn Lunde brings over 50 years of experience in shipping finance and maritime banking to the Custos Board. His career, spanning from 1973 to the present, has encompassed leadership roles across global maritime financial centers including Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, India, Cyprus, and Singapore.
Dagfinn’s expertise centers on ship finance, maritime banking, and shipping operations, with deep knowledge of vessel financing structures, credit assessment, and maritime market cycles. His extensive international network and institutional relationships across global shipping finance communities provide Custos with valuable insights into capital markets, lending dynamics, and financing opportunities for maritime acquisitions.
Mads Jørgensen
Board Member
Mads Jørgensen is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in building and scaling technology-enabled businesses. His career began in 2000 when he founded Zellsoft in partnership with TDC, Denmark’s Tier 1 mobile operator, establishing an early presence in the mobile gaming industry during its formative years.
Since then, Mads has founded and led multiple successful ventures across mobile gaming and iGaming sectors, demonstrating expertise in identifying emerging market opportunities, building scalable business models, and executing strategic exits. His entrepreneurial experience provides valuable perspective on business development, operational scaling, and value creation strategies.
Frode Haugen
Board Member
Frode Haugen is an experienced top executive with extensive expertise in corporate turnarounds, organizational development, and establishing new business areas. His career includes leadership roles at Robot Aviation AS, Otrum AS, Alcatel Nordic & Baltic, Ghana Telecom, and Tandberg Data AS, spanning technology, telecommunications, and industrial sectors.
Frode’s particular expertise lies in professionalizing companies, implementing operational improvements, and driving organizational transformation in underperforming or transitioning businesses. He has successfully led multiple turnaround situations, bringing disciplined management processes, enhanced operational controls, and strategic clarity to complex business challenges.