Leif Frode Onarheim

Leif Frode Onarheim (born 23 August 1934) is a Norwegian businessperson and politician for the Conservative Party.

Onarheim was born in Vestre Toten as the son of businessman Frode M. A. Onarheim (1900–1985) and housewife Lillemor Høst (1902–1990). He attended primary and secondary school in Hamar, Bekkelaget and Gjøvik. He took his higher education at various institutions, including one year at the Valdosta State College from 1955 to 1956, but from 1957 he studied at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, graduating with the siv.øk. degree in 1960.

In December 1958 he married Anne Helene Nygaard, nicknamed Annemor. She has been active in local politics.

In 1960 he started his professional career as salesman. From 1965 to 1967 he worked at the indo-Norwegian Project on development aid in Kerala. In 1970 he became chief executive officer of Nora-Sunrose, and in 1981 chief executive of Nora Industrier. From 1981 to 1983 he also presided over the employers' association Federation of Norwegian Industries, having been vice president from 1979 to 1981.

In 1991 he left the post as chief executive to become chair of Orkla ASA, following the merger between Nora and Orkla. He held this position for one year. From 1992 to 1993 he was the vice president of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. He was then the rector of the Norwegian School of Management from 1993 to 1997, and the president of Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise from 1997 to 2001.