OSLO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Norwegian conglomerate Aker ASA has hired Yngve Slyngstad, the former head of Norway's sovereign wealth fund, to lead its asset management unit, the company said on Tuesday.

"Slyngstad will be responsible for building and developing active asset management to become a new business area in Aker, on par with the company's industrial holdings," it said in a statement. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Nerijus Adomaitis)