Telenor Names Ieva Martinkenaite as Head of Research and Innovation

The new head will drive Telenor’s research involvement in innovation with strategic partners and customers as part of Telenor’s new strategy to provide customers with more value and capture future growth.

“Ieva is among the key figures at Telenor Group contributing to building Artificial Intelligence research and innovation ecosystems. As Senior Vice President of Telenor Research and Head of the Analytics and AI team, she has been responsible for advancing research and driving innovation in Telenor within data analytics, AI, and the Internet of Things. Her work has also involved advisory to Telenor executives and business leaders on digital technologies and innovation strategy. Her extensive experience, broad and deep knowledge, and solid leadership skills are why she has been named to head Telenor Research and Innovation,” says Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group.

In addition to more than 15 years of business experience, Martinkenaite has held several high-profile regional and national appointments in AI and digitisation, represented Telenor in the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI, and is a Board Member of Telenor Denmark. She currently leads a joint AI task force of ETNO and GSMA Europe, and she is among the experts responsible for European Commission´s AI-related scientific program reviews, such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe. Martinkenaite holds a PhD in Strategic Management from BI Norwegian Business School.

Martinkenaite has taken the helm as SVP and Head of Telenor Research and Innovation, succeeding Bjørn Taale Sandberg, who assumed the role of Chief Strategy Officer of DNA earlier this year.

An innovating force

As part of Telenor’s new strategy to ensure growth and reshape the company’s role as an enabler for digitalisation and sustainability, research and innovation with partners will be important to create new value for customers.

“The aim is that our researchers will continue to build relevant knowledge for Telenor, bring industry insights to Telenor’s companies, support and enable growth and efficiency ambitions, as well as competency uplift. To emphasise its role as an innovating force in Telenor, the unit is renamed Research and Innovation,” says Brekke.

“I feel proud and humble to lead a new Research and Innovation unit in Telenor, a powerhouse of knowledge building and innovation in our company consisting of highly skilled researchers and professionals from diverse technology fields. The responsibility I take for building a future-proof knowledge to Telenor, delivering research-based insights on new trends and implications for our company, and contributing to the innovation platform is huge,” says Martinkenaite.

For more than 50 years, Telenor has invested in a dedicated research area to help the company prepare for and leverage emerging technologies, as well as customer, organisational and regulatory trends.

Telenor Research and Innovation consists of a team of experts who take a science-based approach to solving some of the most intricate problems facing telecommunications today – providing insight and guidance to top management for more informed decision-making.