From Western Norway’s Largest HVAC Contractor to Energy Control

– This is a star signing, says founder and CEO of Energy Control, Tommy Hagenes.
Harald Aakre is a well-known and highly regarded figure in the Norwegian HVAC industry. He has therefore been at the top of Hagenes’s "wishlist" for a long time.
– Harald is one of the country’s foremost HVAC experts. His solid professional knowledge, and also his technical insight, make him an enormous asset. I am therefore very pleased that he has finally agreed to join us. It is not just a great honour — it is a confirmation that we are now playing in the top league in terms of recruitment as well, says Hagenes.

‍Versatile and varied
Harald Aakre comes from the position of Service Department Manager at Vestrheim. The title itself may not blow anyone away, but the responsibilities include Harald having had both professional responsibility and personnel responsibility for close to 60 of the company’s 170 employees.  
– I have had a versatile and highly varied role at Vestrheim. In addition to the department manager role, I have also been technical support for many of my colleagues for many years. I have had great freedom and have been very happy there. Vestrheim has been an excellent employer, says Aakre.

‍Followed Tommy closely
After more than 20 years at the HVAC contractor, the time was nonetheless ripe to do something new. And after several attempts, Tommy finally managed last autumn to bring Harald across to the Energy Control team.
– I have followed Tommy closely from day one. Since 2014 we have run several projects together and I have in many ways been part of the journey, even if from the sidelines. I am impressed by what Tommy has achieved with Energy Control, says Aakre, adding:
– Tommy has from time to time nudged me and asked if I wanted to be part of the journey. This autumn he came to me again, this time with more substance and a more serious proposition. I therefore felt the time was right to try something new, says Aakre.

‍– Want to challenge myself
The reason Harald said yes this time, in short, is that he wants to challenge himself.
– I am motivated by learning new things. Much of the reason I said yes is that I want to stretch my mind and both learn and do things I cannot do yet. Here I get to be part of developing products and solutions that are not fully developed, and new products that perhaps have not been developed at all. I look very much forward to that, says Aakre.
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He is now starting as Senior Project Manager at Energy Control — a role that will no doubt take on concrete content as time goes by.
– I am used to leading people, so part of the job will be taking responsibility for the project managers in the company. Beyond that, there is no doubt that my experience with energy centres will play an important role in the further development of Energy Control, says Aakre, who among friends is known by the nickname "The Pump Whisperer".
– There has been a great deal of focus on ventilation at Energy Control. This has been a successful area of focus and one that will be further strengthened going forward. It is however no secret that my long experience with pumps and energy centres will be an important area of focus for the company going forward, says Aakre.