Tellef Thorleifsson

Tellef Thorleifsson was at the helm of the Nordic region's largest development finance institution, Norfund, for eight years, and he stepped down as CEO in 2026. During his tenure, Norfund’s capital base doubled and annual investment commitments tripled, supported in part by a significant increase in capital recycling. 

Thorleifsson developed a strong interest in international affairs at an early age, when he was awarded a scholarship to pursue the International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College. He began his professional career as a political adviser to the Mayor of Oslo before moving into the private sector. In 1996, he co-founded Northzone, which has since grown into a leading international venture capital firm with approximately USD 2.5 billion in committed capital.

He later co-founded the Voxtra Foundation, which has supported the development of agribusinesses in East Africa through targeted investments and grants. Throughout his career, Thorleifsson has also held a number of board and advisory positions.

Thorleifsson holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MSc from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).