CEO of World’s Biggest Wealth Fund Reflects on Being Unpopular

Nicolai TangenPhotographer: Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
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After months of drama and doubt, Nicolai Tangen is finally set to become the chief executive of Norway’s $1.2 trillion wealth fund. He says staying cool in the face of unpopularity was key.

The 54-year-old will start running the world’s biggest sovereign investor on Sept. 1. To secure the job, Tangen had to strike a last-minute deal to give up the hedge fund he founded -- AKO Capital LLP -- after parliament balked at the potential conflict of interest.