Lars Bratsberg to lead NTB's commercial growth

News and media technology agency NTB is expanding globally to bring its software solutions to international publishers. Currently delivering news, communication services and tech products to clients across 22 countries, the agency has set ambitious targets for the future – with Lars Bratsberg now joining the team to lead the commercial push.

"A key part of our strategy is to scale our media tech portfolio globally, helping publishers deliver faster, more accurate content through technology built specifically for the modern newsroom. Appointing Lars Bratsberg is a crucial step. He brings the exact knowledge and experience we need at this stage, and I’m simply delighted to welcome someone of his calibre to the team," says Tina Mari Flem, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of NTB.

Solid international experience

Bratsberg joins from Spond, where he was responsible for 75 per cent of total revenue. He spent nine years at Google, leading the commercial rollout of YouTube in the Nordics and overseeing go-to-market strategies in China and Hong Kong. As founder of Growth Tribe Norway, he has also helped companies leverage AI platforms and digital tools to transform customer journeys. He previously held commercial roles at RiksTV.

"Lars is precisely the kind of leader NTB needs right now. He combines sharp commercial insight and strategic vision with an impressive operational toolkit. He knows international markets inside out, and I’m thrilled to work alongside him to see what we can achieve together," says Flem.

"It also helps that he is a true team player. He not only strives for results, but genuinely cares about customers and the people he works with," she adds.

Bringing Norwegian media tech to the world

Bratsberg will head NTB's commercial department, consisting of sales, marketing, analytics and customer service. He will oversee revenue targets and ensure seamless, engaging customer experiences across all channels.

"NTB holds a unique position – combining journalistic credibility, innovative tech and products that already meet global standards. That’s a rare blend. I'm excited to join a team taking something truly great to an international market, helping drive our success by sharpening our commercial strategy, making better use of data and building a winning culture that delights our customers," says Bratsberg.

He steps into the role on 1 September and joins NTB's executive management team.

Joakim Nilsson to lead the picture agency

Bratsberg takes over from Joakim Nilsson, who has led NTB's commercial operations for over two years. Nilsson is now moving into the role of head of NTB's Picture Agency, which manages over 500 million photos, videos and audio files.

"NTB is the largest picture agency in the Nordics. We excel in photography and video, but we plan to step up our game in news audio. It’s an ambitious yet challenging focus area, so I’m very pleased to have someone with Joakim's proven track record lead this effort," says Flem.

"After an insightful period in the commercial department, I'm eager to tackle new challenges at the picture agency," says Nilsson. "It gives me great reassurance to hand over the baton to someone like Lars, and I look forward to working closely with him. There's so much exciting momentum at NTB right now!"