Bjørn Erik Thon

Bjørn Erik Thon
Ombudsman of the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 February 2022
Preceded by	Hanne Bjurstrøm
Director of the Norwegian Data Protection Authority
In office 2 August 2010 – 28 February 2022
Preceded by	Georg Apenes
Succeeded by	Line Coll
Director of the Norwegian Consumer Ombud
In office 2000–2010
Preceded by	Torfinn Bjarkøy
Succeeded by	Gry Nergård
Personal details
Born	(1964-02-06) 6 February 1964
Occupation	Jurist

Bjørn Erik Thon (born 6 February 1964) is a Norwegian jurist and ombudsman.

Career

He graduated as cand.jur. in 1989. From 1999 to 2000, during the first cabinet Bondevik Thon worked as a political advisor in the Ministry of Justice and the Police. He has been a member of Grefsen-Kjelsås borough council for the Liberal Party. From 2000 to 2010, he headed the office of the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman. His period was renewed in 2007. He succeeded Georg Apenes as director of the Norwegian Data Inspectorate in late May 2010, though his immediate predecessor was acting director Ove Skåra.

Ombudsman of Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination

On 19 November 2021, he was nominated to succeed Hanne Bjurstrøm as ombudsman of the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud. He became the first man to hold the position. He assumes office on 28 February 2022.

In July 2022, Thon argued that the incident of a Russian woman not being granted a job interview due to her nationality, was a clear example of discrimination. He also emphasised that it was important to differentiate between the Russian state and individual Russian citizens. He was supported by lawyer Henriette Willix from Advokatfirmaet Sulland.

Writing

In 2000, he started his career as a writer with his crime novel Svart kappe. He followed with the crime novels Den tause klienten in 2002 and Den enes død in 2004. In 2005 he wrote the consumer issues book Forbrukerjungelboka with Ola Fæhn.