About

Øystein Askim joined the largest Norwegian pharmacy chain, Apotek 1 Gruppen, in 2007 and today is the company’s legal director. With a turnover of over NOK 11bn and more than a 40% market share, the company is always cautious of expanding without breaching competition laws, but Askim has so far ensured Apotek 1 doesn’t abuse its strong position within Norway’s pharmacy industry. In late 2016, Apotek 1 became Norway’s first online retailer of prescription drugs when Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie officially opened its online pharmacy headquarters in October. Askim had a key role in facilitating the online project by helping the company navigate through a number of regulations. Following that seminal development, in 2017, the pharmacy chain entered into a fi ve-year framework agreement with EG for the delivery of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for its new online platform – a project which is the Nordic region’s largest implementation of Dynamics 365 within the retail market. In another national first, Apotek 1 opened Norway’s first airport pharmacy at Oslo Airport in 2017. Askim was again involved in the legal matters concerning the setup of the new store and managing director Øyvind Winther said of the development that ‘this is one of the most exciting establishments we have ever made. The fact that we as a market leader are in fierce competition with other players and still gained this position means we are very pleased’. Before joining the company, Askim had a successful nine year spell as an associate at the law firm Thommessen Krefting Greve Lund in Oslo.