Biography for Tore Steen
A proven leader, entrepreneur, strategist and team-builder, Tore Steen has built and
managed major public and private companies in the United States and around the
world. His innovative approach to business analysis, organizational structure, business
development, strategy execution and creative financial solutions have made him an
asset to both entrepreneurs and established organizations.
CEO of World Intelligent Network, LLC, Tore provides corporate advisory and
networking services, assist in planning and forming boards of directors or advisors,
manage merger and acquisition strategies, and provide interim senior management for
special situations. Tore has served on over thirty corporate or non-profit boards. He also
acts as an advisor or coach to executive management.
Tore is a member of the Board of Directors of Deckers Outdoor Corporation (a
NASDAQ listed company, DECK), serving on the Audit Committee and the Governance
& Nominating Committee. He also serves on the Board of the Chief Executives’
Organization (CEO). He chairs the Advisory Board of WSI, a large Canadian based
global franchising company and sits on the Board of Directors of and serves as
Chairman of the Advisory Board for a Seattle integrated alarm company.
Some of the past boards include The Mangum Group, a large NC construction company,
the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and the World Presidents’ Organization,
Outward Bound, Flexi-Van Corp., Castle & Cooke (Dole), NMR of America and a
number of other corporate and civic boards. He is currently a member of both the Chief
Executives’ Organization and the World Presidents’ Organization (WPO), where he
served six years on its International Board.
While Tore’s passion is to participate in challenging and entrepreneurial endeavors, his
career began in the corporate world, where he worked for Citibank, then built a global
$500 million organization for a forerunner of JPMorgan Chase and later served as
President of a $450 million New York Stock Exchange listed company. He has also
served as CEO of companies listed on the NASDAQ and the London Stock Exchange.
Tore’s experience spans a broad array of industries. He has managed projects and
companies in banking and finance, Internet and technology, franchising,
manufacturing, maritime shipping, wood products, health care, architectural, sales,
training and marketing businesses, and interactive multimedia companies. Tore also
spends time facilitating strategic planning sessions and retreats for many diverse
companies and organizations.
As Chairman and CEO of Cascade General, Inc., a $100 million ship repair company, he
planned and executed a buyout of the Company as well as the takeover of a competitor.
With 1500 employees in 11 unions, Cascade served clients such as BP, Chevron, Exxon
and Texaco, as well as the Military Sealift Command and the US Coast Guard. Tore also
served as the CFO for WTD Industries, Inc, a $450 million NYSE forest products
company, employing 2,600 and operating 34 mills in 7 states. His responsibilities
included the development of a $500 million pulp mill project and arranging $1.3 billion
in takeover financing.
In his native Norway, Tore served with the Royal Norwegian Air Force. After an
honorable discharge, he was awarded a scholarship to study in the United States, where
he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Computer Science. He
followed this with an MBA in Finance and International Trade, both at the University of
Oregon.
After obtaining his MBA, Tore worked in the banking and financial services industry for
almost two decades, first with Citibank and then with Chemical Bank (now JPMorgan
Chase). For the latter he founded, built and served as President of the Bank’s
international leasing and asset based financing subsidiary, which he built to a $500
million company, with operations in 16 countries in Asia, Europe, Mexico, as well as
North and South America.
While a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Tore served on the YPO
International Board for six years from 1982-88 and as Area Vice President for the Eastern
Area. He served as chapter chair of the Metro New York Chapter. Other YPO roles
included serving as SVP International in 1988, as the International Seminar Chairman,
organizing over twenty annual seminars worldwide, and on the organizing committees
for numerous University events. Now a member of WPO and CEO, Tore was the Mentor
Liaison between WPO and YEO for several years, playing an instrumental role in
creating the mentoring program between members of these two organizations.
A professional ski instructor and former ski-racer and coach, Tore is passionate about all
aspects of the outdoors, including skiing, sailing, tennis, hiking, mountain biking,
fishing, and hunting. He is also active in charitable fundraising, and has been a frequent
speaker and organizer for various conferences, including the Regional Drug Initiative
and his participation in the White House Drug Advisory Council hosted by President
Bush. Tore and his wife Mona reside in Park City, Utah, while their six children live in
Paris (France), Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon.
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