Kjell J. Karlsen
 President and General Manager
Sea Launch Company, LLC

Kjell Karlsen was named President and General Manager of the Sea Launch Company in July 2008. Until that appointment, he had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2002, and previously had been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1999.

Karlsen leads a team of seasoned professionals who are responsible for supporting the commercial launch needs of the international space community with the proven and reliable Sea Launch system and its land-based derivative, Land Launch. Emphasizing responsive, flexible and innovative customer-focused solutions in a highly competitive market, the team works closely with spacecraft manufacturers, end users and the insurance community to ensure open relationships, based on mutual trust, as well as uncompromised customer satisfaction.

Prior to joining Sea Launch, Karlsen was President of Kvaerner, Inc., the Norwegian shipbuilder’s U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia. Concurrently, he was Vice President of Kvaerner Financial Services, Kvaerner’s U.S. treasury operation, reporting to the Treasurer of the Kvaerner Group (now Aker ASA). From 1988-1997, Karlsen held increasingly responsible executive positions with Den norske Bank of Oslo, Norway, and its New York-based operation.

Karlsen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon and a Master of Business Administration degree from Lehigh University. He is a graduate of the Executive Development Program of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also of the officer training program of the Norwegian Air Force.