Craft Coffee and Clear Code
How Keystone’s CTO Shapes Digital Innovation in Oil & Gas
When Thor Egil Kolltveit joined Keystone as Chief Technology Officer eight months ago, he didn’t bring Silicon Valley swagger. Instead, he carried a clear conviction: technology delivers value only when people trust it and use it efficiently.
Technology has always played a central role in his life. His initials spell “TEK,” which he jokes predetermined his path early on. By age six, he disassembled televisions and radios—sometimes failing to put them back together. That curiosity evolved into LAN parties, hands-on computer tinkering, and eventually a lifelong devotion to IT.
“The challenge is what keeps me hooked,” he explains. “In technology, you never run out of options -there’s always another problem to solve, another way to improve.”
That mindset carried him through senior positions in various companies, lately VMware and Broadcom, where he experienced the scale and rigor of global tech. Joining Keystone marked a shift: here he has a direct impact on daily operations.
Clearing the path for developers
Kolltveit views his role as enabling rather than directing. With teams across Norway, Poland, and other parts of Europe, his mission is to build trust, remove obstacles, and create conditions where innovation thrives.
“At Keystone, the culture is refreshingly open,” he adds with a smile. “T-shirts and hoodies are perfectly acceptable work attire.”
Today, he drives Keystone’s international expansion and doubles down on digital solutions that simplify complex processes in critical industries. In oil and gas—where Keystone has deep roots—its tools boost decision-making speed, lower costs, and enhance safety.
Partnerships that signal trust
Keystone collaborates with major operators like Aker BP and Exxon Mobil, and parners with global players like NOV and Halliburton, These alliances underscore Keystone’s growing reputation as a trusted technology partner in energy.
Innovation through simplicity
Kolltveit carries a guiding principle from throughout his career: innovation often starts with simplicity. “Laziness is underrated,” he quips. “Most good inventions begin with the question: how can we make this easier?” Their mission is to strip complexity from vital operations.
Looking ahead, he approaches emerging technologies—especially artificial intelligence—with both optimism and pragmatism. He sees AI as a powerful tool, not a substitute for human judgment. He worries that over-reliance on AI might curtail opportunities for young developers to learn hands-on:
“If companies lean too heavily on AI, we risk losing the apprenticeships young people need to grow. Employers must take responsibility, ensuring that there is space for learning and development for the next generation.”
Fueling the day (and the work)
Each morning, Kolltveit arrives energized, knowing his day will be unpredictable. Part of that energy comes from his passion for coffee—his favorite beans are berry-dried Ethiopian from the roaster Solberg & Hansen.
For him, the beauty of a growing company is that every day brings new challenges, new decisions, and new opportunities to shape the future. With confidence in Keystone’s technology, trust in his colleagues, and a steady hand on the company’s technical vision, Kolltveit believes Keystone is set to thrive in a fast-changing industry.
“History reminds us of Kodak, a giant that faded by missing the tech shift. As long as we keep evolving, our future stays bright.”