:Kai G. Henriksen

Henriksen served his mandatory military service from 1975 to 1976 in the Royal Norwegian Navy. Henriksen holds a cand.polit. degree from the University of Oslo which he attended from 1978 to 1984, a period during which he also worked as a journalist for regional newspaper Østlandets Blad. While studying French in Tours during the early 1980s, Henriksen has stated he first discovered wine while there.Maison (September 2008). "På gaffelen: Vin i munnen", p. 77 (in Norwegian)

From 1984 to 1986, Henriksen was the leader of the Young Conservatives (Unge Høyre), the youth wing of the Conservative Party. In 1986 Henriksen worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a private secretary (now called political adviser) for then foreign minister Svenn Stray, during Willoch's Second Cabinet.{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/the-government/previous-governments/the-structure-of-the-registry/ministries-and-offices/private-secretariesprivate-advisorspolit/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-political-ad.html?id=426530|title=Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Political Advisers|publisher=Government.no|access-date=27 August 2010}} Henriksen served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Akershus during the term 1985–1989. Then from 1986 to 1988 he was political advisor to the chairman of the Conservative Party, Rolf Presthus, and a similar capacity during 1989–1990 under then Minister of Trade Kaci Kullmann Five during the cabinet Syse.

Henriksen achieved his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School which he attended from 1990 to 1992. Henriksen served as a "summer trainee" in 1991 at Procter & Gamble in Stockholm, and held the position of project leader at McKinsey & Company from 1992 to 1995, working with projects involving strategies and business development. From 1995, Henriksen was market director at Avanse Forvaltning AS until 1997. In 1997 Henriksen became the CEO of Storebrand Bank, which he remained until 2003. From 2003 to 2006, Henriksen was CEO of the attorney firm DLA Nordic DA.

Following the scandal that was uncovered in 2005 involving Vinmonopolet employees and the importer firm Ekjord A/S that brought about the resignation of then Vinmonopolet CEO Knut Grøholt in the episode named the "Ekjord Case",{{cite web|last= Marthinsen, Tom; Linderud, Esben |first= Dagens Næringsliv |title= Vinimportør smurte polsjefer |url= http://www.dn.no/vinguiden/article420120.ece |date= 20 January 2005 |language= Norwegian}} Henriksen was appointed as successor to the position which he began in August 2006.Dalheim, Ulf, Adresseavisen (21 April 2006). [http://www.adressa.no/kultur/vin/article654649.ece Polets nye direktør] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212144207/http://www.adressa.no/kultur/vin/article654649.ece |date=12 December 2018 }} {{in lang|no}}Dagens Næringsliv (21 April 2006). [http://www.dn.no/vinguiden/article766250.ece Ny direktør i Vinmonopolet]{{in lang|no}}VG.no (21 April 2006). [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=303709 Kai G. Henriksen ny sjef i Vinmonopolet] {{in lang|no}}

In this capacity, Henriksen stressed his commitment to the 'social responsibility' of preventing access to alcohol among minors, and fulfilling the mandate to run an operation so successful that the monopoly arrangement will remain in the future, having stated, "We will earn the support of the people".{{cite web|last= Anker |first= Nils, Dagens Næringsliv: D2 |title= – Vi skal gjøre oss fortjent til folks støtte |url= http://www.dn.no/d2/d2mat/article1538626.ece |date= 14 November 2008 |language= Norwegian }}Ronold, Arne, Meininger's Wine Business International (1 October 2007). [http://www.wine-business-international.com/Market_Watch_Norway-_Wine_in_the_land_of_the_Midnight_Sun.html?RedSYS_Community_Session=c31bc6ef9e07d8b02727a7640345da2a# Norway: Wine in the land of the Midnight Sun]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Henriksen has implored that other leaders in Vinmonopolet ought to leave their desks, put on uniforms and experience "work on the floor", which he does himself at least three times a year.Indseth, Ingrid H., E24.no (9 February 2010). [http://e24.no/jobb/article3507141.ece Vinmonopol-sjefen: – Kom deg ut på gulvet] {{in lang|no}} Having initiated several reforms relating to the employees' conditions and competency investment, some at great financial cost,Dalheim, Ulf, Adresseavisen (8 January 2009). [http://www.adressa.no/kultur/vin/article1223251.ece Satser åtte mill. på smakinger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611135041/http://www.adressa.no/kultur/vin/article1223251.ece |date=11 June 2011 }} {{in lang|no}} many maintain the opinion that he is the best director of the company they have experienced.Bø, Merete, Dagens Næringsliv (5 October 2009). [http://www.dn.no/vinguiden/article1754873.ece Satser på kresne kunder] {{in lang|no}}

From a customer perspective, the period under Henriksen's leadership and its changes have widely been received positively, with several voices previously critical of the Vinmonopolet institution in recent years declaring that it may be becoming the "world's leading wine store".Økland, Nils Are, Vinforum (5 November 2007). [http://www.vinforum.no/?article=2510&type=news Grums på Vinmonopolet] {{in lang|no}} In contrast, Tom Marthinsen of Dagens Næringsliv though acknowledging progress from the conditions of the 90s, is critical of techniques Henriksen and his team have introduced from chain stores and standardization methods.{{cite web|last= Marthinsen |first= Tom, Dagens Næringsliv |title= Vinmonopolferd på feil kurs |url=http://www.dn.no/vinguiden/article1539682.ece |date=14 November 2008 |language= Norwegian}} Arne Ronold MW stated in 2008, "they have become aware of the problems and are taking measures", and, "I may have been one of the most ardent critics, but I have mildened somewhat".

In August 2010, Henriksen passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust advanced diploma with the distinction "with merit", becoming the first managing director of Vinmonopolet to obtain a wine trade education.Vinforum (19 August 2010). [http://www.vinforum.no/?article=3200&type=news Polets øverste vinmann] {{in lang|no}}

Henriksen was diagnosed with cancer in November 2014, and withdrew from his position in March 2016. He was reported to have died on 27 May 2016 at his home in Oslo.[http://www.aftenposten.no/okonomi/Sjefen-for-Vinmonopolet-dode-i-natt-198246b.html Sjefen for Vinmonopolet døde i natt], Aftenposten (27 May 2016) {{in lang|no}}

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{{succession box | before=Sveinung Lunde| title=Leader of Norwegian Young Conservatives |after=Trond Helleland |years=1984–1986 }}

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Category:1956 births

Category:2016 deaths

Category:University of Oslo alumni

Category:Harvard Business School alumni

Category:Norwegian chief executives

Category:Deputy members of the Storting

Category:Akershus politicians

Category:Conservative Party (Norway) politicians

Category:Deaths from cancer in Norway