Jørgen Vig Knudstorp
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp (born 21 November 1968 in Fredericia) is an Danish businessman, who was the executive chairman and former CEO of the Lego Group. He succeeded Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen.
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp | |
---|---|
Executive Chairman of The Lego Group | |
Assumed office 2017 | |
Preceded by | Niels Jacobsen |
4th President of The Lego Group | |
In office 2004–2017 | |
Preceded by | Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen |
Vice President of The Lego Group | |
In office 1995–2004 | |
President | Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen |
Personal details | |
Born | Fredericia, Denmark | 21 November 1968
Nationality | Danish |
Spouse(s) | Vanessa Knudstorp |
Alma mater | Aarhus University |
Occupation | Businessperson, consultant |
Early years
Knudstorp was born in 1968, grew up in Fredericia and graduated from Fredericia Gymnasium before attending Aarhus University.[1]
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Knudstorp began an academic career as a researcher at his alma mater as well as obtaining a master's degree (1995) and a PhD (1998) in Economics from Aarhus University.[1] He stayed in academia, but worked as a business consultant from 1998 to 2000.[1]
Lego career
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp joined the LEGO Group in 2001 after working as a McKinsey & Company consultant[2] and university researcher at Aarhus University.[1]
Under Knudstorp's tenure, LEGO Group's yearly income has gone from a loss to drawing a notable profit.[3][4] and a 600% increase in turnover from 6.3 billion to 37.9 billion in 2016. [5]In December 2016, it was announced that Knudstorp would step down as CEO of LEGO, and instead take the position of chairman of the group.[6]
Positions outside Lego
In January 2017, Starbucks nominated Knudstorp to its board of directors.[7]
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2014-10-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Feloni, Richard (10 February 2014). "How LEGO Came Back From The Brink Of Bankruptcy". businessinsider.com. Business Insider Inc.
- Schwartz, Nelson D. (8 June 2006). "One brick at a time". fortune.com. FORTUNE Magazine.
- Agence France-Presse (4 March 2010). "Toy Maker LEGO Sees Profits Soar in 2009, More to Come in 2010". Industryweek.com. IndustryWeek. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- Tools, JP (10 August 2017). "LEGO Hovedtal Kilde Legos årsrapporter". jyllands-posten.dk. Jyllands-Posten.
- Pedersen, Signe Ferslev (6 December 2016). "Knudstorp stopping as CEO of LEGO". Business.dk (in Danish). Berlingske Media. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- Starbucks Nominates Rosalind Brewer, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and Satya Nadella to its Board of Directors