Knut Tvedt
Encyclopedia
Knut Tvedt was a Norwegian
director and jurist. He was acting chief executive
of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1946 to 1948.
to the teacher and organist Elias Tvedt (1874–1956) and his wife Kristine Margrethe Odberg (1875–1948). He grew up in Drammen
and took examen artium
there in 1925. In 1930, he graduated from university with a cand.jur.
degree.
, Drammen and Kristiansand
before being employed as secretary by the Ministry of Labour for four years. In 1932, he was employed as a consultant
by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), in which corporation he remained in different positions for almost twenty-five years. His only interruption from the corporation was during the Second World War, when he maintained his own law firm
in Oslo. Tvedt married Rannveig Marie Heen (1913–2008) on 11 November 1941.
After the war, Tvedt became chief secretary for NRK, and in 1946 he was appointed acting chief executive (later director-general) of the same corporation. In 1948, Kaare Fostervoll
became director-general of NRK
, and Tvedt was appointed financial manager. Tvedt also had many other positions in boards of state enterprises in Norway, among them Norsk Tipping
and Norsk Spisevognselskap
. He was also a board member of Filharmonisk Selskap and Aschehoug
.
When Fostervoll retired in 1962, Tvedt applied for the director-general position. Hans Jacob Ustvedt
applied for the same position. The board of NRK supported Tvedt, whilst the Broadcasting Council
supported Ustvedt. In January 1962, the Government decided to appoint Ustvedt to director-general. The right-wing press criticised the appointment, arguing that it was done on political grounds.
Tvedt then left the NRK, and tried to make success as a barrister in Oslo. He also became juridical consultant
of the music copyright company TONO
, and, in 1965, the company's chief executive. He stayed in the company until his retirement in 1977. Tvedt died on 30 September 1989 in Oslo, and was cremated at Vestre gravlund
on 9 October.
. In 1973, Tvedt was upgraded from a Knight to a Commander of the Order of St. Olav. Four years later, he was decorated with the St. Hallvard's Medal. He was also appointed honorary member of the Norwegian Society of Composers
and the Norwegian Union for Stage Directors.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
director and jurist. He was acting chief executive
Director-General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
ňThe Director-General is chief executive and editor-in-chief of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation . The position is appointed by the NRK board, which in turn is appointed by the government....
of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1946 to 1948.
Early life and education
Tvedt was born in LierLier, Norway
Lier is an affluent municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lier. The municipality of Lier was established on 1 January 1838...
to the teacher and organist Elias Tvedt (1874–1956) and his wife Kristine Margrethe Odberg (1875–1948). He grew up in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
and took examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
there in 1925. In 1930, he graduated from university with a cand.jur.
Candidate of Law
Candidate of Law is the degree awarded to jurists who have passed the law exam in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland after studying law for about 5–6 years....
degree.
Career
After graduating he worked as a lawyer in SandefjordSandefjord
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838...
, Drammen and Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
before being employed as secretary by the Ministry of Labour for four years. In 1932, he was employed as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), in which corporation he remained in different positions for almost twenty-five years. His only interruption from the corporation was during the Second World War, when he maintained his own law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
in Oslo. Tvedt married Rannveig Marie Heen (1913–2008) on 11 November 1941.
After the war, Tvedt became chief secretary for NRK, and in 1946 he was appointed acting chief executive (later director-general) of the same corporation. In 1948, Kaare Fostervoll
Kaare Fostervoll
Kaare Fostervoll was a Norwegian educator and politician for the Labour Party. From 1949 to 1962 he was the director-general of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation .-Early career:...
became director-general of NRK
Director-General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
ňThe Director-General is chief executive and editor-in-chief of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation . The position is appointed by the NRK board, which in turn is appointed by the government....
, and Tvedt was appointed financial manager. Tvedt also had many other positions in boards of state enterprises in Norway, among them Norsk Tipping
Norsk Tipping
Norsk Tipping AS is the national lottery in Norway, located in Hamar. The company offers a wide range of lottery, sports and instant games in the Norwegian market. Norsk Tipping is owned by the Norwegian government and administered by Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs...
and Norsk Spisevognselskap
Norsk Spisevognselskap
Norsk Spisevognselskap A/S, often abbreviated NSS or shortened to Spisevognselskapet, was a Norwegian state enterprise which operated restaurant carriages on Norwegian trains and restaurants at train stations and railway hotels. The company was established in December 1918, and started a catering...
. He was also a board member of Filharmonisk Selskap and Aschehoug
Aschehoug
H. Aschehoug & Co , commonly known as Aschehoug, is one of the largest independent publishing companies in Norway. -History:...
.
When Fostervoll retired in 1962, Tvedt applied for the director-general position. Hans Jacob Ustvedt
Hans Jacob Ustvedt
Hans Jacob Neumann Ustvedt was a Norwegian medical doctor and broadcasting administrator. He was a driving force of the doctors' resistance during the World War II, had to flee to Sweden in 1942, and was leading the medical office at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm...
applied for the same position. The board of NRK supported Tvedt, whilst the Broadcasting Council
Broadcasting Council (Norway)
The Broadcasting Council is an advisory board to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation .The role of the Broadcasting Council is to discuss and comment on NRK's programming agenda for Norwegian radio and television, as well as to advise on administrative and financial matters...
supported Ustvedt. In January 1962, the Government decided to appoint Ustvedt to director-general. The right-wing press criticised the appointment, arguing that it was done on political grounds.
Tvedt then left the NRK, and tried to make success as a barrister in Oslo. He also became juridical consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
of the music copyright company TONO
TONO
TONO is a Norwegian corporation that administers copyrights for music in Norway.It is owned and governed by its members; composers, music publishers and text-writers...
, and, in 1965, the company's chief executive. He stayed in the company until his retirement in 1977. Tvedt died on 30 September 1989 in Oslo, and was cremated at Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund
Vestre gravlund is a cemetery in the Frogner borough of Oslo, Norway, located next to the Borgen metro station. At , it is the largest cemetery in Norway...
on 9 October.
Honours
In 1960, Tvedt was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav. He was also decorated as a Knight of the Danish Order of Dannebrog and the Swedish Order of VasaOrder of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
. In 1973, Tvedt was upgraded from a Knight to a Commander of the Order of St. Olav. Four years later, he was decorated with the St. Hallvard's Medal. He was also appointed honorary member of the Norwegian Society of Composers
Norwegian Society of Composers
The Norwegian Society of Composers was founded in 1917. The Society’s main objectives are to promote its members’ music and secure their rights....
and the Norwegian Union for Stage Directors.