Novo Nordisk Foundation

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen was appointed as CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2021.

Novo Nordisk

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen joined Novo Nordisk in 1991 as Head of Growth Hormone Research. In 1994, he was appointed Senior Vice President of Diabetes R&D, and in November 2000 he became Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. In this capacity, he was responsible for global drug and device research, CMC and global development, medical affairs, regulatory and safety within Novo Nordisk. During this tenure, he oversaw the development and approval of more than 20 medicinal products.

Other positions and management duties

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen is currently a member of the board of BB Biotech AG. He has been chairman of the board of the University of Copenhagen as well as President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, and served on the editorial boards of several international, peer-reviewed journals. In addition to this, he has been Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen since 2000.

Education

1991: DSc (Veterinary Science), the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

1989: PhD, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark

1986: DVM, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen

Contact

PA Heidi Toft
[email protected]
+45 3079 0250

Novo Nordisk Foundation

Søren Nedergaard joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2021 as the Chief of Staff and was appointed as the COO in august 2021.

Career in Science, Higher Education & Innovation

Prior to joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Søren Nedergaard served as Director of the Rector’s office at the University of Copenhagen where his responsibilities included counselling the Rector and Executive Management and the University’s Board of Directors, implementation of the university’s strategy and supporting collaboration across faculties on the development of the university.

Søren has held various positions under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science during 2001-2018, including as Head of Division for Policy and Coordination in the Permanent Secretary’s Department, and Head of Division for Higher Education.

He had a posting from 2006-2009 as the first Technology & Research Attaché at the newly established Innovation Centre Denmark in Silicon Valley (US) working to create ties between universities in the Bay area and Denmark. Søren Nedergaard was the Director for the Association of University Colleges working with rectors and colleges to support the development of the training of teachers, nurses, and other health care and welfare sector professionals in Denmark.

Other positions and management duties

At the University of Copenhagen Søren was the university’s Senior Officer in the European University Alliance LERU and the global university alliance IARU.

From 2018-2021 he was a member of the Board of Greve Gymnasium including a period as acting Chairman of the Board.

Education

Søren Nedergaard holds a BSc and MSc in Political Science from Aarhus University, Denmark.

Contact

Contact PA

Erika Söderberg Johnsson was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Novo Nordisk Foundation in November 2023.

Prior experience
Erika Söderberg Johnsson has a broad financial, strategy and operational background from more than 20 years of CFO experience in life science companies, Biotage AB (2012-2020) Karo Bio AB (2007-2011), Affibody AB (2005-2007) and Global Genomics AB (2002-2005). Most recently before joining Novo Nordisk Foundation she was Senior Advisor to the investment company Kinnevik AB (2022-2023) where she also was CFO (2020-2022). Before she took on her first CFO assignment in 2002, she worked for 10 years in investment banking at SEB. In addition to this, Erika also has extensive board experience with prior board positions in Sectra AB (2007-2017), MedCap AB (2014-2017), Qliro Group AB (2017-2020), and Lunar Group A/S (2020-2023).

Other positions and management duties
Erika Söderberg Johnsson is currently a member of the board of directors of Saab AB, Camurus AB, and Marley Spoon AG.

Education
MSc in Business and Economics, Stockholm School of Economics

Contact
PA Maia Cecille McCarthy
[email protected]
+45 2573 2204

Head of Communications in the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings;

• Responsible for internal and external communication activities
• Responsible for stakeholder relations of the Foundation and Novo Holdings
• Responsible for public affairs in the Foundation and Novo Holdings

Joined the Foundation in 2016.

Contact

Responsible for establishing and awarding grants and activities by the Novo Nordisk Foundation within biotechnology research. The area covers industry, food, plants and environment. The activities include:

• Strategic actions, such as Novo Nordisk Foundation centres and Challenge programs within biotechnology
• Open competition grants
• Contact to stakeholders within the national and international biotechnology research landscape

Joined the Foundation in 2019.

Contact

Responsible for establishing and awarding grants and activities by the Novo Nordisk Foundation within natural, technical and interdisciplinary research. These include

• Strategic actions, such as Novo Nordisk Foundation centres and Challenge programs within the nat-tech areas
• Open competition grants, including the Investigator carrier programs within nat-tech and the interdisciplinary Synergy programs
• Contact to stakeholders within the national and international nat-tech research landscape

Joined the Foundation in 2019.

Contact

Head of Medical Science, one of the Foundation’s Programme Areas, and it’s three departments BioMedicine, Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Medicine, and member of the Executive Leadership Team.

In charge of the Novo Nordisk Foundation activities relating to open calls within the medical sciences and strategic initiatives such as the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, the Danish National Genome Center, the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease, the Novo Nordisk Foundation reNew Center for Stem Cell Medicine, REACT, Microbiome Health Initiative, the Novo Nordisk Foundation Cellerator, the seven Steno Diabetes Centers in Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy, and the Danish Cardiovascular Academy.

Joined the Foundation in 2020.

Contact

Senior PA, Charlotte Hinge

+45 2620 4771

[email protected]

Overall responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s distributions and activities within natural science education and outreach, within research in art and art history, and within social science research related to the green transition.

• Responsible for strategic initiatives and grants in open competition within education and science communication as well as art and art history
• Responsible for grants within interdisciplinary education and social sciences related to the green transition
• Contact with stakeholders within the above areas

Joined the foundation in 2015.

Contact

Responsible for Legal function in the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Board secretariat in the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings A/S.

Attorney.

Joined the Foundation in 2023.

Contact

+45 2049 8910
[email protected]

Head of Obesity and Nutritional Sciences, one of the Foundation’s Programme Areas, and member of the Executive Leadership Team.

In charge of developing activities and awarding grants within the obesity and nutrition area. The area covers prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity and ensuing complications; prevention of disease via nutrition, exercise, and life style changes within wellbeing, stress, sleep, etc.; dietary and nutritional therapy of medical, surgical and mental health conditions, where food, meals and nutrition is a component; and lastly nutrition and health related aspects of the green transition.

Activities include:

• Developing and establishing ‘Centre for Childhood Health’ in collaboration with the Ministry of Health – a new national centre promoting healthy weight and wellbeing through collaborative research, innovation and development of evidence based interventions and prevention efforts with a focus on children and their families.
• The lighthouse project ’LightCOM’ – a partnership project focusing on treatment of obesity in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the Capital Region of Denmark (Hvidovre Hospital), University of Copenhagen, University of Oxford, and a number of municipalities.
• The Healthy Weight Alliance – an alliance with more than 40 members, mobilizing partners with different types of expertise, who work to form a common agenda on how to best prevent obesity among children and young people in Denmark.

Joined the Foundation in 2020

Contact

Head of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Infectious Diseases Programme area.

Support the development and implementation of new strategic initiatives and research programs within Infectious Diseases.

Develop partnerships and contribute to the global visibility and impact of the foundation’s activities within Infectious Diseases.

Joined the Foundation in 2022.

Contact: [email protected]

Contact PA: Susan Nielsen, [email protected]

Responsible for steering, supporting and advising on the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s strategy within Infectious Diseases, vaccine research and epidemic preparedness. .

Chairman of the Board for Novo Nordisk Foundation Vaccine Accelerator (NVAC).

Joined the Foundation in 2021.

Contact PA: Susan Nielsen, [email protected]

Responsible for activities within the Novo Nordisk Foundation regarding innovation and entrepreneurship.

Joined the Foundation in 2016.

Contact

Support the development and implementation of research and development programs within global health. Develop partnerships with academic institutions, authorities and civil society organizations in Denmark and abroad within global health. Contribute to the globalization of the Foundation’s activities.

Joined the Foundation in 2022.

Contact

Contact

• Heading the development, management and overview of the NNF Portfolio and the NNF Portfolio Board, warranting strategic alignment of high-quality projects.
• Chairing the committee for unsolicited applications.
• Coordinating leadership meetings between the NNF, universities and Novo Group companies.
• Heading the development and execution of Bioscience Cluster activities to stimulate collaboration and to increase international impact and branding of research in Denmark.

Joined the Foundation in 2018.

Contact

Responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s grant management, including:

• Management and organisational development of the Grant Management Team
• Establishment of the Grant Management Team as the point of entry for applicants and grant holders
• Preparation of grant agreements and follow-up on active grants
• Ongoing development and implementation of grant management processes, internally as well as externally

Joined the foundation in 2021.

Contact

[email protected]

Contact, PA

PA & Team Coordinator, Gunnar Näsman
+45 2444 4405
[email protected]

Responsible for the Foundation’s impact assessments, analyses, CSR and data reporting, including:

• Impact measurement and monitoring (“impact assessment strategy”)
• Reporting on the Foundation’s grants and grant-giving policy
• CSR reporting
• Data warehouse and reporting to the Foundation

Joined the Foundation in 2014.

Contact

Drives strategic partnerships with world-leading foundations, universities and other public and private stakeholders. Plays a critical role in strengthening the Foundation’s role as a well-respected and trusted collaborator globally.

Joined the Foundation in 2023.

Contact
+45 2072 5518
[email protected]

Contact

PA Mia Vedel Meinfeldt
+45 9351 0838
[email protected]

Development and operation of a reliable and effective Operations and Grant Administration – including responsibility of the NNF property Grant-awards (SDC, LIFE, BII)

• Budgetting, Finance and controlling
• Engage with Regions and Universities on financial matters concerning SDC’s and research centers
• IT
• NNF property grant-awards
• General administration

Joined the Foundation in 2015.

Contact

PA Mia Vedel Meinfeldt
+45 9351 0838
[email protected]

Lars Rebien Sørensen has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2017.

Lars Rebien Sørensen was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered a non-independent board member as he is Chair of the Board of Novo Holdings A/S.

Lars Rebien Sørensen was born in 1954 and holds a MSc (Forest and Nature Management) and a HD-IB.

He serves as Chair of the Board of Novo Holdings A/S, Chair of Board in Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland) and Chair of the Advisory Board of Axcel Management A/S. Furthermore, he is a member of the Boards of Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc. (USA), Essity AB (Sweden) and Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG (Switzerland).

Lars Rebien Sørensen serves as Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen and Adjunct Professor at the Center for Corporate Governance, Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

Board competencies
Managerial experience from a large international company. Extensive knowledge of the Novo Group business standards and practices as well as knowledge of the international pharmaceutical industry. Board work experience.

Please contact the Chairman via   
Senior PA Trine Sewohl
+45 2065 5135
[email protected]

Vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2023 and member of the Nomination Committee since 2018.

Lars Munch was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered an independent board member.

Lars Munch was born in 1959 and holds an MSc (Economy).

Lars Munch serves as Chair of the Board of the Politiken-Foundation and Politiken Holding A/S and as Chair of the Boards of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Museumsfonden, Louisiana Fonden, BRFfonden, BRFholding A/S, BRFinvest a/s, Fonden for Håndværkskollegier, SOS Børnebyerne and GUBI A/S.

Furthermore, Lars Munch is a member of the boards of Utzon Center A/S and the KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg. Lars Munch is also a member of the Boards of the European Press Prize (Amsterdam) and the World Association of News Publishers (Paris), as well as Chair of the Advisory Board for Master of Management Development, Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and Vice Chair of the Board of Axcelfuture. Lars Munch serves as Adjunct Professor at the Department of Organisation, CBS.

Lars Munch serves as Adjunct Professor at the Department of Organization, Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

Board competencies
Experience with society and social conditions, art and culture, media and board work.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2023.

Christopher Voigt was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered an independent board member.

Christopher Voigt was born in 1976 and holds an BSE in chemical engineering at the University of Michigan and a PhD in biochemistry and biophysics at the California Institute of Technology

Christopher Voigt is the Daniel I.C. Wang Professor of Advanced Biotechnology in the Department of Bio-logical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as the co-director of the Synthetic Biology Center at MIT.

Christopher Voigt is a founding member of the U.S. National Science Foundation-funded Engineering Biology Research Center, former founding Editor-in-Chief of the ACS Synthetic Biology journal, and co-founder of the companies Asimov (therapeutics bio-manufacturing) and Pivot Biotechnologies (agriculture).

Christopher Voigt serves on several scientific advisory boards; DSM, Stellate, Design Therapeutics, Synlogic, Twist Bio, Senti Biosciences, Generate Biomedicines, Empress Therapeutics, General Probiotics, Rodigo, and Aanika. Christopher Voigt is also a member of the BioMADE Bio-manufacturing Institute.  He an equity partner of Data Collective Venture Capital (DCVC Bio), Pillar VC, and Mission Bay Capital (Bio-innovation).

Board competencies
Extensive scientific advisory experience. Expert knowledge within synthetic biology and genetic engineering as well as the translation of cutting-edge science into innovations and start-up companies.

Employee representative, Environmental Consultant.

Member of the board of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since March 2022. Last elected in March 2022 for a four-year term.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2013.

Lars Fugger was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered a non-independent board member as he is advisor to Novo Nordisk A/S.

Lars Fugger was born in 1960 and holds an MD, a PhD and a DMSc. He is Professor at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, UK. Lars Fugger is a member of the Board of the Alfred Benzon Foundation.

Board competencies
Experience with medical science research, innovation and research management. Experience with research evaluations/authorisations/counselling as well as politics within medical science.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2018.

Liselotte Højgaard was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered an independent board member.

Liselotte Højgaard was born in 1957 and holds a DMSc.

She is Clinical Professor in the fields of medicine and technology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. She is a member of the Boards of BRFfonden, Die Robert Bosch Stiftung (Germany), Kronprins Frederiks og Kronprinsesse Marys Fond and Arvid Nilsson’s Foundation. Furthermore, she is a member of the Scientific Council at the European Research Council (ERC).

Board competencies
Experience with medical science research, innovation and research management.

Experience with research evaluations/authorisations/counselling as well as politics within medical science.

Employee representative, Auditor.

Member of the board of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since March 2018.  Last elected in March 2022 for a four-year term.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2023.

Nana Bule Sejbæk was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered an independent board member.

Nana Bule Sejbæk was born in 1978 and holds an BSc in Business Economics and Strategy from Copenhagen Business School, 2000.

Nana Bule Sejbæk serves as Chair of the National Digital Council and is also Chairing the committee on Climate policy & Green transition at the Confederation of Danish Industry. Furthermore, Nana Bule Sejbæk is a member of the boards of Arla Foods, AxcelFuture and Energinet. Nana Bule Sejbæk works as an Operating Advisor with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Board competencies
Senior Executive experience from a large international Tech company with a proven track record of driving transformation and delivering business growth. Board work experience.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2013.

Steen Riisgaard was last elected in March 2023 for a one-year term, and is considered a non-independent board member as he is Vice Chair of Novo Holdings A/S and Chair of New Xellia Group A/S.

Steen Riisgaard was born in 1951 and holds an MSc (Microbiology).

Steen Riisgaard serves as Chair of the Boards of New Xellia Group A/S and Lactobio A/S. Steen Riisgaard is also Vice Chair of the Boards of Novo Holdings A/S and VILLUM FONDEN. Steen Riisgaard is a member of the Board of Corbion.

Board competencies
Experience with management in general from a large international company. Knowledge of the Novo Group business standards and practices and extensive knowledge of international biotechnology industry and research within the private sector. Experience with innovation and entrepreneurship.

Employee representative, Electrician.

Member of the board of the Novo Nordisk Foundation since March 2022. Last elected in March 2022 for a four-year term.

Responsible for Legal function in the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Board secretariat in the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings A/S.

Attorney.

Joined the Foundation in 2023.

Contact

+45 2049 8910
[email protected]