Knut Arild Hareide became CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association on August 1, 2024. Hareide came from the position of Director General of Shipping and Navigation at the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Previously, he has been a Norwegian politician and party leader in the Christian Democratic Party.

Hareide was a political advisor and state secretary during the Bondevik governments, and Minister of the Environment in the Bondevik II government from 2004 to 2005. From 2020 to 2021 he was Minister of Transport in the Solberg government.

Hareide was a Member of Parliament from 2009 to 2021. From 2009–2013 he chaired the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications and the July 22 Committee.

He holds a degree in economics from NHH.