Who we are

Leading GRC advisory experts in the nordics

Howart Compliance

Howart is an advisory services firm within the financial service sector
specialized in financial regulations, compliance, risk management and governance. Howart was founded in
Copenhagen in 2016 and has since grown to become one of the leading GRC advisory expercts in the nordics

By combining in-depth industry knowledge with specialized and firm specific expertise, Howart has a unique insight into and understanding of the challenges facing financial companies.

Contact one of our partners and find out what we can do for you.

Meet our partners

Nikolaj Klein

Partner

As a partner in Howart Compliance, Nikolaj advises our clients on compliance-related matters and establishment of supervised companies, FSA applications and compliance outsourcing.

Nikolaj is co-founder of and partner in Howart Compliance. Nikolaj holds a Master of Law (LL.M.) from University of Copenhagen and has more than 15 years of experience from the financial sector within Legal & Compliance. In addition, Nikolaj has extensive experience in building companies. In 2006, Nikolaj established a brokerage house, which was sold in 2009. After the sale, Nikolaj joined Saxo Bank to lead Legal & Compliance and build up Saxo Asset Management. After Saxo Bank, Nikolaj Nikolaj has been working largest advisory houses in risk management and compliance as CEO and partner. In 2018, the company was sold to a large international venture capital fund.

Joar Langeland

Partner

As Partner in Howart Compliance, Joar assists our clients with strategic and tactical advice and assistance with operational tasks related to implementation and management. Joar also assumes operational roles as interim project manager, COO or Risk & Compliance Officer.

Joar is co-founder of and partner in Howart Compliance. Joar holds a degree in financial services from BI Bank Academy and has more than 30 years of international experience from banking, finance and consulting companies. Joar has worked in several leadership and expert roles in leading Nordic banks, including SEB and DNB in ​​the Nordic countries, Germany, the Baltics, Poland and the USA. Most recently, Joar has been co-founder and CEO of the Norwegian part of a Nordic consulting firm, where Joar acted as advisor to several FinTech and RegTech companies. Throughout his career, Joar has accumulated considerable competences in regulatory compliance, risk and capital management as well as a unique understanding of both national and international technology in particular in infrastructure, regulation and licensing areas.

Stein Aage Bless

Partner

As Partner in Howart Compliance Stein Aage assists clients with application processes, the production and control of governing documents and with implementation of new financial regulations. Stein Aage can also assume different operational roles.

Stein Aage is Partner in Howart Compliance. Stein Aage has more than 25 years’ experience within financial services and consulting, including 12 years in DNB and more than 11 years as a consultant within risk management and compliance from different international and Nordic consulting companies. Stein Aage holds a Master of Business and Marketing degree from Oslo Business School (Norwegian School of Management) as well as an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney, Australia. In addition, Stein Aage has a Master of Management course in Consulting from Norwegian School of Management. As a consultant Stein Aage has extensive experience with licence applications to the Norwegian FSA for companies with different licence needs, and with outsourcing of risk management and compliance functions. Additionally, Stein Aage has experience as a financial controller and credit officer and has worked in a covered bonds company.