Celebrating a double milestone

DNV GL, the world’s leading ship classification society and one of the world’s leading risk and sustainability service providers, is celebrating a double milestone: The Foundation DNV’s 150th anniversary and DNV GL’s first year as a merged company.

“This year marks 150 years of proud past for the Foundation Det Norske Veritas and that in itself is worth celebrating. The fact that 2014 also is year one of the newly merged DNV GL Group gives us an even better ability to deliver on our vision of having a Global Impact for a Safe and Sustainable Future,” says Henrik O. Madsen, President & CEO of the DNV GL Group.

To mark the 150th anniversary of Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and the one year anniversary of its merger with Germanischer Lloyd (GL), DNV GL is hosting a prestigious event in Oslo today. Over 1000 guests, made up of dignitaries, government officials and top industry figures and customers, will be present.

“Created from two highly respected companies with parallel histories spanning 150 years (GL was itself formed only three years later) we want to celebrate our legacy but at the same time we are using the occasion to look forward,” says Henrik O. Madsen, President & CEO of the DNV GL Group.

“We want to use the celebrations to create dialogue with our stakeholders on what we expect to be a period of significant change ahead. These dialogues will be structured round anniversary events throughout the year, and focus on a range of sustainability issues. We have been moving in this direction for some time, but we need to have sustainability even more in focus. The anniversary events – and related activities – mark a step in this direction,” explains Madsen.

Overseeing the anniversary celebrations will be Tore Høifodt, DNV GL Group media director and project manager for the global anniversary events. “We are celebrating a big anniversary this year and with nearly three centuries of joint experience, we are determined to use the occasion not only to look back, but also look forward. We want to be seen as an organization that helps find and develop sustainable solutions, and develop globally recognized standards and procedures – all in an effort to make our customers operate safer, smarter and greener.”

In addition to the anniversary event, DNV GL is organizing a sustainability roundtable session which will bring together established leaders from the likes of the UN and the EU with influential youth activists, NGOs, media commentators, academics and business voices. http://roadlesstravelled.pit.as/?page=participants

Also, in collaboration with its partner Sustainia and an international alliance of companies and organisations, DNV GL will present a study which maps leading sustainability innovation in key societal sectors. Titled Sustainia100, the guide showcases sectors, companies, jobs and products that help to create a future of sustainable growth. http://www.sustainia.me/resources/S100/2014/launch_program.pdf