Corporater Leadership

Tor Inge Vasshus is the founder and CEO of Corporater. He is an experienced practitioner of management methodologies, a dynamic speaker on the topics of technology trends and integrated software solutions, and a trusted strategy advisor to CEOs of companies worldwide.

Tor Inge’s career spans across several companies, two of which led to establishing Corporater: Equinor (f.k.a. Statoil) — an international energy company, where he held several key positions in the finance domain for over twelve years, and SAS Institute — the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence/analytics market, where Tor Inge spent two years managing the performance management solutions portfolio.

Having lived through the effects of IT-controlled performance management solutions, Tor Inge had a vision to create software that could be run by business users. He founded Corporater in 2000.

Corporater’s product development portfolio receives Tor Inge’s direct attention – one of the key reasons why product development at Corporater is run by business users.

Social responsibility is another area of interest to Tor Inge. He is instrumental in several community development initiatives in Norway and elsewhere. The main focus of these initiatives is to offer sustainable solutions for people and communities, and to bring back hope and life. One such initiative is – A Better Life Now (www.abetterlifenow.net)

Tor Inge holds a master’s degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Stavanger, Norway.

Joben Panakal is responsible for Corporater’s business units across Europe. He is based in Frankfurt, Germany.

Joben’s extensive background spans across enterprise class Aviation IT, CRM and GPRC solution domains, and leadership roles in P&L Management, Corporate Planning & Controlling, Software Product Management, and International Sales & Market Development. Joben has engaged in entrepreneurial activity and successfully run a small business enterprise during his academic pursuit and continues to apply this entrepreneurial attitude in professional work roles.

Jørg Magne Tengesdal is the Chief of Staff at Corporater. He oversees strategic execution and company-wide operations, ensuring that group priorities and structures support consistent, high-quality outcomes for customers. His work focuses on aligning the leadership team around clear priorities and building scalable operations to support Corporater’s global growth.

Before joining Corporater, Jørg Magne worked with business development and operational improvement in entrepreneurial environments, gaining experience in scaling initiatives and leading organisational change. Since joining Corporater, he has held several senior leadership roles, including Country Manager in Germany, Head of Support and Head of PMO. Through these positions, he has built solid international experience in establishing new markets, enhancing customer success capabilities and developing robust global delivery and governance practices.

He is based at Corporater’s headquarters in Stavanger, Norway.

Owe Lie-Bjelland is responsible for Corporater’s GPRC market strategy. He has over 25 years of international experience as a technology entrepreneur, CEO, CTO, and GRC professional. As a subject matter expert in several areas, such as risk management, cyber & information security, and data & information governance, he has worked as a trusted vendor and a management advisor for several Fortune 500 companies across different industries in Europe, the USA, and Latin America.

Owe Lie-Bjelland coined the acronym GPRC in 2019, seeking to “Emphasize the ‘P’ in GRC” due to a recognition of a global trend showing inefficient and ineffective GRC programs.

Karl Magnus Horpestad is responsible for Corporater Strategic Alliances with partners and large accounts. He has worked for Corporater for over 9 years with focus on international expansion for Corporater both in product- and commercial related roles. His last role was VP for Corporater Germany, which is now turned into a major market for Corporater with large, notable clients.

Karl Magnus has an economics degree from University of Stavanger with a focus on business strategy and internationalization. On his personal time he enjoys any nature type of experience from climbing to diving and is a photography enthusiast.

Rune serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Corporater, responsible for all client projects. He ensures that Corporater’s delivery meets client expectations and brings value to our clients.

He first joined Corporater as the President in 2013 and also held the position of Chairman from 2011 to 2014.

Rune Halvorsen is a visionary entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and dedicated technology enthusiast known for his innovative contributions to various industries. Born and raised in Norway, his entrepreneurial journey began when founding Interaction AS in 1997, where he served as its Managing Director until 2009.

Before joining Corporater, Rune served as the CEO of Secure-NOK® for four years. He gained international experience during his tenure as the Chairman and CEO of Scala Inc., based in Delaware, USA. Rune also has experience as a Senior Consultant at Capgemini AS and as a Development Manager at PGS Data Management AS.

Rune Halvorsen holds a BSc Honours degree in Computation from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology between 1987 and 1990.

Ola serves as the Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at Corporater, where he spearheads initiatives to ensure outstanding customer experiences, champions the benefits of the company’s products, and cultivates enduring client relationships.

Since first joining Corporater in 2005, Ola has held various roles in customer service and consulting. After spending some time at other companies since 2014, he returned to Corporater in 2022, dedicating himself entirely to customer-centric efforts. Ola is deeply passionate about engaging with customers, sharing updates and features, highlighting the importance of training, and generally going the extra mile to help customers achieve their goals with Corporater’s solutions.

Ola earned his degree from the University of Bergen, majoring in Information Science, in 1999.

Marko Sundic is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Corporater. He is responsible for managing Corporater’s development and operations, including product and service portfolio, and aligning technology with Corporater’s business vision.

Since he joined Corporater in 2011 he participated in many international projects, working as a technical lead with infrastructure, deployment, integrations, security and customer support.

Marko has true passion for technology and problem solving. He is a strong believer in teamwork and is energized when working with others. He has the ability to see the big picture from both technical and business aspects, closing the gap between IT solutions and business requirements.

He studied Computer Science at University in Stavanger and Economy & Leadership at NTNU.

Based in Stavanger, Arve brings a wealth of experience in finance and business leadership, having served as Group Finance Director at Tampnet AS and Senior Manager at Ernst & Young (EY) in Stavanger. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Audit from the Norwegian School of Economics and is a State Authorized Public Accountant with extensive expertise in audit, accounting, tax, and financial consolidation. Known for his focus on process improvement and mentoring, Arve’s strategic acumen and deep industry knowledge will be instrumental in driving Corporater’s financial success as we continue our ambitious growth journey.

Trond Debes serves as Vice President of Legal, Compliance and Human Resources at Corporater. With over 20 years of experience within the areas of legal, compliance, strategy and human resources, Trond has held key roles at Norsk Solar, Santander Consumer Bank and GE Money Bank.

Trond holds a Cand. Jur. degree in Law from the University of Bergen (2001), equipping him with a solid legal foundation that has underpinned his career in both legal and compliance functions. He is known for his strategic development skills, having successfully led high-value projects and initiatives that deliver long-term results.

Daniël Smidts serves as the Vice President – Europe at Corporater, bringing over 20 years of expertise in governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. His career includes senior leadership roles at Corporater, EY, and the Transcendent Group, where he led strategic initiatives, designed and implemented enterprise-wide risk and compliance frameworks, and guided high-performing teams.

Daniël has extensive experience advising financial services institutions on risk technology adoption, strengthening control measures, and navigating complex regulatory transformations. His work consistently focuses on helping organizations build resilient, future-ready governance and risk capabilities.

Salil Kumar Subramony serves as the Vice President of Corporater, overseeing operations in the Middle East, APAC, and Africa. Since joining Corporater in 2012, Salil has played a pivotal role in the development and expansion of Corporater’s partner channel network in the Middle East.

Prior to his tenure at Corporater, Salil garnered extensive experience in business development, notably in the risk management products sector, and contributed his expertise to the consumer durables market while working with global giants such as Philips and Samsung.

Educated as an engineer, Salil’s technical expertise is further enhanced by professional certifications, including CISA, CISM, and GRPC.

Steinar Holmedahl serves as the Vice President – Nordics at Corporater. Steinar has nearly 30 years of expertise in leadership, sales, and business development, emphasizing data-driven digital transformation and strategic growth.
In his previous role as Director of Business Development at Atea, where he has worked since 2016, Steinar played a pivotal role in growing the company’s revenue from NOK 8 billion to NOK 12 billion, while driving innovation in IT security, partner management, and service development. His leadership was instrumental in building Atea’s IT security division, which achieved significant market success, and leading Atea Community, the largest IT roadshow in Norway.

Steinar holds a Cand. Mag. degree in Political Science from the University of Oslo, along with formal leadership training through programs at AFF (NHH) and Garuda School of Leadership. He is fluent in both English and Norwegian, with a working knowledge of German and Swahili.

Known for his values-driven leadership style, Steinar empowers teams through coaching, helping individuals grow into capable and empathetic leaders. His strong understanding of diversity and cultural dynamics, shaped by his upbringing in Nairobi, adds to his well-rounded leadership approach.

Brad boasts over 24 years of expertise in sales, marketing, and operations, specializing in product commercialization and go-to-market strategies. With a keen eye for market growth and business expansion, he has navigated diverse sectors including food, spirits, medical, and SaaS, working with national and global brand leaders, B2B, and B2C companies.

Joining Corporater in 2017 as Director of Marketing, Brad has ascended to his current role as Vice President – Americas. Here, his primary focus is on propelling sustainable growth and expanding business ventures across the region. Beyond the office, you’ll often find Brad on the sidelines alongside his wife, cheering on their son during soccer matches, or indulging his passion for travel and hands-on projects.

Mahesh Mahale is our Vice President, India, leading and developing our Global Service Centers to drive operational excellence and support our global growth strategy both in Bangalore and Chennai. Mahesh is a transformational leader with over 20 years of experience in professional services, delivery management, and strategic consulting. He has a strong track record of building high-performing teams, optimizing service delivery, and fostering collaboration across international markets. He has held key leadership roles driving growth and innovation across multiple industries. He holds an Advanced Management Program from IIM Bangalore and has a passion for mentoring teams, optimizing service models, and delivering exceptional customer value.