New CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation

He will replace Birgitte Nauntofte. When she started as CEO at the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2009, there were only three employees working there, and the foundation awarded approximately DKK200m in grants each year. Now, the organisation had expanded to 211 employees, and approximately DKK5.5bn was awarded in grants in 2020.

After 12 years as CEO of the foundation, Birgitte Nauntoffte wants to take on new challenges. But she remains closely connected to the foundation: "I am equally pleased that I can maintain a connection with the Foundation as a member of the boards of BII and LIFE. Both of these foundations will in the coming years be able to make significant contributions for the benefit of society." LIFE develops and provides enquiry-based thematic teaching courses for primary and secondary schools. BioInnovation Institute (BII), established in 2017, aims to promote research, innovation and entrepreneurship within biotechnology and life science in Denmark and other Nordic countries.

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen started at Novo Nordisk in 1991. Since 2000 he is CSO, and now he will be retiring from the company.