Board of Directors

The Board of Directors (the Board) comprises seven non-executive directors, and two alternates, all of whom are elected at each AGM for a term of one year.

The role of the Board


The Board is the supreme authority over the Bank’s affairs subject to shareholders’ meetings, unless otherwise provided for by law or in the Articles of Association. The Board sets the Bank‘s general strategy and instructs the CEO on its implementation and execution. It also has a supervisory role in overseeing that the Bank‘s organization and activities comply at all times with the pertinent regulatory provisions and sound business practices.

Heiðar Guðjónsson

Chairman of the Board since January 2026


Main Occupation: Owner and Managing Director of Ursus ehf. and Ursus Capital AG, Switzerland.

Work experience: CEO of Sýn hf. (2019–2022). Specialist at Íslandsbanki in London (2003–2005). Specialist at Kaupthing Bank in New York (2000–2003). Head of Securities Brokerage at Íslandsbanki (1998–2000).

Other directorships: Member of the Board of HS Veitur (2014-), member of the Board of Innviða fjárfestingar slhf. (2015-). Chairman of the Board of the Arctic Economic Council (2013-).

Education: B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Iceland, securities trading qualifications in the United States and the United Kingdom, and a certification in asset management from Switzerland.

Shareholding and independence: Heiðar is independent of the Bank’s major shareholders and has no conflicts of interest with Íslandsbanki’s main business partners or competitors. Heiðar owns 147,120 shares and 17,458,679 shares through his company Ursus ehf. in Íslandsbanki and is therefore considered to have business interests in the Bank.

Sub-Committies: The Board Risk Management Committee.

Stefán Pétursson

Vice-chairman of the Board since July 2023.


Main Occupation: CFO of EpiEndo Pharmaceuticals ehf.

Work experience: CFO of Arion Bank hf. (2010-2021). Head of Financing, Executive Director of Finance and CFO at Landsvirkjun (1993-2010).

Other directorships: Has served as Committee member of ÍL fund Projects Committee and on the boards of Margildi ehf., Landfestar ehf., Valitor hf., The Icelandic Depositors Guarantee Fund, Landey ehf. and Hablaer.

Education: MBA from Babson College in Boston. Cand.oecon in Business Administration from the University of Iceland.

Shareholding and independence: Stefán holds no shares in Íslandsbanki. Stefán‘s spouse holds 28.153 shares in Íslandsbanki. Stefán is considered independent of the Bank and major shareholders. No interest ties with main customers or competitors of the Bank.

Sub-Committees: The Board Risk Management Committee and Chairman of The Board Audit Committee.

Haukur Örn Birgisson

Board member since July 2023


Main occupation: Supreme Court Attorney, owner, and Managing Director of FIRMA Legal.

Work experience: Supreme Court Attorney, owner, and Managing Director of Íslenska lögfræðistofan (2008-2023). Chairman of the Reparations Settlement Committee (2023-2024). Chairman of the Rehearing Committee (2017-2021). Chairman of the Board and CEO of Inkasso ehf. (2010-2013). District Court Attorney and associate at Lex lögmannsstofa (2004-2008). District Court Attorney and associate at Nestor lögmenn (2004). Teacher in various legal courses in Reykjavík University, the University of Iceland, Verzlunarskóli Íslands and Menntaskólinn Hraðbraut.

Other directorships: The Open Championship (member of the Executive Committee). Has been on the boards of the Golf Union of Iceland (as President), the European Golf Association (as President), the International Golf Federation and GAM Management hf.

Education: Cand.jur. from the University of Iceland. Licenced Supreme Court Attorney.

Shareholding and independence: Haukur holds no shares in Íslandsbanki and is considered independent of the Bank and major shareholders. No interest ties with main customers or competitors of the Bank.

Sub-Committies: The Board Innovation and Technology Committee and Chairman of the Board Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee.

Helga Hlín Hákonardóttir

Board member since July 2023


Main Occupation: Partner and consultant at Strategía.

Work experience: Founder and lawyer at Lixia lögmannsstofa (2011-2014). Co-founder and Managing Director of Legal at Saga Investment Bank hf. (2006-2011). Attorney at Straumur Burðarás Investment Bank hf. (2005-2006), Íslandsbanki hf. (2000-2005) and capital markets lawyer at Fjárfestingarbanki atvinnulífsins (1998-2000) and the Iceland Stock Exchange (1996-1998).

Other directorships: Rue de Net (Board Member), AÞ Þrif (Board Member) and Icelandic Weightlifting Federation (President). Has been a Board Memeber at mark.is as chairman, Iceland Stock Exchange as alternate, Skeljungur hf., Summa Rekstrarfélag hf., Greiðsluveitan, Icelandic Chamber of Commerce, Festi hf., Krónan hf., Vís hf. as chairman, Lífís as alternate, WOW air hf., Meniga Ltd. and on the The University Council of Akureyri University.

Education: Cand.jur. from the University of Iceland. Licenced District Court Attorney. Securities broker licensed by the Icelandic Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

Shareholding and independence: Helga Hlín holds no shares in Íslandsbanki and is considered independent of the Bank and major shareholders. No interest ties with main customers or competitors of the Bank.

Sub-Committees: The Board Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee and Chairman of the Board Risk Management Committee.

Margrét Pétursdóttir

Board member since January 2026


Main Occupation:

Work experience: Partner at KPMG (2024-2026). CEO of Ernst & Young (2019-2023). Head of Audit at Ernst & Young (2010-2019). Head of Internal Audit at Ernst & Young (2005-2023, intermittently).

Other directorships: Has been on the boards of IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) from 2018 to 2024, where she chaired the Governance Committee and was a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. She has also been on the boards of the Institute of State Authorized Public Accountants in Iceland, the Nordic Federation of Accountants, and the Iceland Chamber of Commerce.

Education: Margrét holds a Cand. oecon degree from the University of Iceland and is a certified public accountant.

Shareholding and independence: Margrét is considered independent of the Bank’s major shareholders but not independent of the Bank and its executive management due to her former position as a partner at KPMG, which serves as the Bank’s external auditor.

Sub- Committies: The Board Audit Committee.

Stefán Sigurðsson

Board member since March 2024


Main Occupation: Managing Director and owner of Nordic Development ehf.

Work experience: CEO of Sýn hf. (2014-2019). Managing Director of Wealth Management at Íslandsbanki hf. (2008-2014). Executive Director and later Managing Director of Strategic Development at Glitnir hf. (2007-2008). Corporate Finance Associate at Glitnir hf. in Denmark (2006-2007). Managing Director and co-founder at Bæjarútgerðin ehf. (2002-2003). Managing Director and co-founder at Inntak almannatengsl (2000-2002). Senior Trader at Landsbankinn hf. (1997-1998).

Other directorships: Isavia ANS ehf. (as Chairman). Fólk Reykjavík ehf. (Board member). Nordic Development ehf. (Board member). Eimskipafélag Íslands (as Alternate). Has been on the boards of the Iceland's Chamber of Commerce, Island Fund S.A. in Luxembourg and Verðbréfamiðstöð Íslands hf.

Shareholding and independence: Stefán holds no shares in Íslandsbanki and is considered independent of the Bank and major shareholders. No interest ties with main customers or competitors of the Bank.

Sub-Committees: The Board Innovation and Technology Committee and the Board Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee.

Valgerður Hrund Skúladóttir

Board member since March 2024


Main Occupation: Consultancy, board memberships, and volunteer work on community projects.

Work experience: CEO and founder of Sensa ehf. (2002-2025). Director of Corporate Services and Holistic Solutions at Tæknival hf. (1994-2002). Head of the Electrical Department at Jóhann Ólafsson og Co. ehf. (1989-1994).

Other directorships: Memento (Board member). Reykjavík Forest Society (Board member). Isavia ANS (Board member) and serves on the University Council of Reykjavík University. Has been on the boards of Confederation of Icelandic Employers, Orb ehf., Staki Automation ehf., Talenta ehf., Siminn DK, Sensa A/S, the Federation of Icelandic Industries, its Intellectual Property Council and the Federation of IT companies (as Chairman).

Education: MBA from the University of Miami. C.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Iceland.

Shareholding and independence: Valgerður holds 12.659 shares in Íslandsbanki and is considered independent of the Bank and major shareholders. No interest ties with main customers or competitors of the Bank.

Sub-Committees: The Board Audit Committee and Chairman of the Board Innovation and Technology Committee.

Alternates


Herdís Gunnarsdóttir, since March 2016
Magnús E. Björnsson, since January 2025

The Board Sub-Committees


The Board sub-committees are four in total, and they operate under the terms of a mandate letter from the Board as well as the Rules of Procedure of the Board. The Board appoints the members of the sub-committees as well as their chairman. When appointing the sub-committees, the Board shall take into account the expertise, skills and experience needed of a member to be appointed to the relevant sub-committee.

The Board Audit Committee

The Board audit Committee comprising three Board members and one external committee member, assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities concerning the financial reporting process, the system of internal control, the audit process and the Bank's process for monitoring compliance with the relevant laws and regulations and its Code of Conduct. 

Páll Grétar Steingrímsson has been elected as the external committee member of The Board Audit Committee. 

 

The Board Risk Management Committee

The Board Risk Management Committee comprising three Board members, assists the Board in its advisory and supervisory role, i.a. in relation to the formulation and implementation of the Bank's risk policy and risk appetite. The committee's responsibilities include the parent company, its subsidiaries, and the whole Group. 

 

The Board Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee

The Board Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee, comprising three Board members and one external committe member, assists the Board in overseeing and assessing the Bank's compliance with generally accepted corporate governance practices and Board effectiveness.  

Herdís Gunnarsdóttir has been elected as the external committee member of the Board Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee. 

 

The Board Innovation and Technology Committee

The Board Innovation and Technology Committee, comprising three Board members, advises the Bank's board on technology development, data security, and the implementation of technological solutions within the bank, as well as the formulation and monitoring of the execution of the Bank's innovation policy.

Rules of Procedure


The Rules of Procedure of the Board are adopted in accordance with Article 70 of the Act on Public Limited Companies No 2/1995 and Article 54 of the Act on Financial Undertakings No 161/2002.

This version of the rules is an English translation. The original Icelandic text, as published here on the Bank‘s website is the authoritative text. Should there be discrepancy between this translation and the authoritative text, the latter prevails.