Ulf André Andersen steps down as editor-in-chief after dramatic life journey

Former Se og Hør editor Ulf André Andersen, widely known as “Uffe,” has announced his departure from the magazine after a career—and life—marked by extreme highs and lows, from near-fatal treks in the Himalayas to a six-year wait for a kidney transplant, he revealed in an extensive interview with Dagbladet Magasinet.

“I felt it was time to step down as editor-in-chief of Se og Hør. I want to take a leap and seek new adventures,” Andersen said. “I don’t know what’s next, but something will turn up—maybe another media role.”

His career path was anything but conventional. The son of a chief physician who wanted him to follow in his medical footsteps, Andersen instead pursued a sprawling academic journey—studying political science, law, art history, and journalism before earning a master’s in digital leadership. His interest in journalism took root during military service, leading to early writing for Universitas and smaller publications.

Beyond media, Andersen co-founded a golf magazine with his sister, though the venture ended when media giant Bonnier outmaneuvered them. “We were a bit cowardly,” he admitted. “We didn’t dare invest our own money, so Bonnier took over the market.” Their most profitable sideline? Printing logos on golf balls imported from the U.S., exploiting slow delivery times.

His life took a sharper turn toward conflict journalism in Asia, where a near-fatal incident in the Himalayas preceded an unlikely opportunity: an interview with the Dalai Lama. That encounter led to a decade-long collaboration, including helping establish Voice of Tibet, a radio station for Tibetan exiles. Andersen worked alongside Norwegian broadcaster Erik Bye, handling content while Bye secured equipment and publicity. “It was my interview with the Dalai Lama that pulled me in,” Andersen recalled. “Suddenly, I was part of Voice of Tibet.”

The project eventually relocated to India, but Andersen’s focus shifted after meeting Hanne Jonassen, a photographer and architect who became his partner. “She lived in a collective with a friend of mine,” he said. “I was hosting a 12-course dinner—she probably thought I was insane.”

Health struggles have defined recent years. Andersen spent six years on the kidney transplant waitlist while battling obesity, shedding 80 kilograms—from 180 kg to 98 kg—through rigorous training. Now, he says, fitness is non-negotiable. “After the transplant and the weight loss, exercise became a lifeline.”

Reflecting on his eclectic path—from Drammen to the Dalai Lama, from media boardrooms to mountain rescues—Andersen remains characteristically blunt: “It’s been a lot. But I’m not done yet.”