Tom Cato Karlsen

Tom Cato Karlsen (born 24 June 1974) is a Norwegian politician and anesthesiologist. He was served as a deputy representative for the Storting for Nordland county from 2013 to 2017 and as a state secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Communications from 2014 to 2017.^[1] On 26 October 2018, he was appointed to be the new County Governor of Nordland county, assuming office on 1 January 2019.^[2]

Tom Cato Karlsen
County Governor of Nordland
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 January 2019
Monarch	Harald V
Prime Minister	Erna Solberg Jonas Gahr Støre
Preceded by	Hill-Marta Solberg
Deputy Mayor of Bodø
In office October 2011 – 17 October 2014
Mayor	Ole-Henrik Hjartøy
Preceded by	Kirsten Hasvoll
Succeeded by	Allan Ellingsen
State Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Communications
In office 17 October 2014 – 1 December 2017
Prime Minister	Erna Solberg
Minister	Ketil Solvik-Olsen
Personal details
Born	(1974-06-24) 24 June 1974 (age 51) Norway
Citizenship	Norway
Party	Progress
Occupation	Anesthesiologist
Profession	Politician

Political career

Local politics

Karlsen was a member of the Bodø Municipal Council between 2003 and 2015.^[3] During this time he also served as deputy mayor of Bodø between 2011 and 2014, when he resigned to become state secretary at the Ministry of Transport.^[4] He was succeeded by Allan Ellingsen.^[5]

State Secretary

Karlsen was appointed as state secretary to the Ministry of Transport on 17 October 2014. He resigned from the post on 1 December 2017, sighting family reasons and returned to his civilian job in his native Bodø.^[6]

County governor

Karlsen was appointed county governor of Nordland on 26 October 2018 and assumed office on 1 January 2019, succeeding Hill-Marta Solberg.^[2] He was renominated for a second six-year-term in April 2024, commencing from 1 January 2025.^[7]