Jørgen Mads Clausen
Jørgen Mads Clausen (born 23 September 1948) is a Danish businessman and philanthropist. He was the CEO of Danfoss, the Danish heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning company, from 1996 to 2009 then chairman until 2022. The company was founded by his father, Mads Clausen, and is controlled by his family. He is also the chairman of DI, the association of the Danish Industry, and has a sizeable investment in the WaveStar wave energy project.
Education
Clausen graduated as a civil engineer from the Technical University of Denmark in 1972 and received an MBA from the University of Wisconsin in 1975.{{Cite web |title=At the Controls |url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2003/0512/028.html |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-26 |title=Interview: Jørgen Mads Clausen takker af. Men der er kun én Mr. Danfoss - og det er mig {{!}} avisendanmark.dk |url=https://avisendanmark.dk/erhverv/interview-joergen-mads-clausen-takker-af-men-der-er-kun-en-mr-danfoss-og-det-er-mig |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=avisendanmark.dk |language=da}}
Career
In 1978, Clausen founded an IT company in Copenhagen. The company later closed with Clausen taking a personal loss and he joined Danfoss, his family's company, as head of technical coordination and research in 1981. In 1990, he became a member of the group's executive board.
In 1996, Clausen became chief executive of Danfoss, he was the first family member to run the company since his father died in 1966. He announced he would step down as CEO in 2008 after 12 years at the helm to transition to the role of chairman in April 2009.{{Cite news |title=New Chairman of the Board for Danfoss |url=https://seab.tradelinkmedia.biz/publications/6/news/3634 |work=Trade Link Media}} At that point, Danfoss had annual revenue of DKK 22 billion (${{To USD|22000000000|DNK|year=2009|round=yes}} USD) and 22,000 employees across 25 countries.{{Cite news |date=2008-07-01 |title=Jørgen Mads Clausen stopper som direktør i Danfoss |url=http://www.business.dk/evb-archive/joergen-mads-clausen-stopper-som-direktoer-i-danfoss |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180304175944/https://www.business.dk/evb-archive/joergen-mads-clausen-stopper-som-direktoer-i-danfoss |archive-date=2018-03-04 |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Berlingske Business |language=da-DK}}
He vacated the chairmanship on March 25, 2022, transitioning the company's leadership to the family's next generation after a career as one of the most celebrated business leaders in Denmark.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Jørgen Mads Clausen har turdet, hvor andre har tøvet |url=https://ctwatch.dk/nyheder/article16450206.ece |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=ctwatch.dk |language=da}} His family continued to control the company and Clausen continues to play a role in leadership as chairman emeritus.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-23 |title=Danfoss: Legacy of family leadership continues |url=https://www.rubbernews.com/executive-action/jorgen-mads-clausen-step-down-danfoss-chairman |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Rubber News |language=en}}
In addition to his work at Danfoss, Clausen is on the board of Risø Research Center, Academy of Technical Sciences, and Danish Advanced Technology Foundation.{{Cite web |date=2008-06-25 |title=Danfoss-chef i Cepos bestyrelse {{!}} vafo.dk |url=https://app.vafo.dk/vejle/danfoss-chef-i-cepos-bestyrelse |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=vafo.dk |language=da}}
Philanthropy
Clausen is a prolific philanthropist with a focus on his native region of Southern Denmark, much of which is channeled through the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation which he chaired until 2022, which distributes over DKK 100 million (${{To USD|100000000|DNK|year=2022|round=yes}} USD) annually.{{Cite journal |last=VESTERMARK |first=B. |last2=VESTERMARK |first2=S. |date=July 1964 |title=Familial Sex‐Linked Thrombocytopenia |url=https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.1964.tb07790.x |journal=Acta Paediatrica |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=365–370 |doi=10.1111/j.1651-2227.1964.tb07790.x |issn=0803-5253|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Mikkel |date=2016-10-13 |title=Sønderborg får scene til kæmpekoncerter |url=https://dinavis.dk/arkiv/ECE16072727/soenderborg-faar-scene-til-kaempekoncerter/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Din Avis |language=da}}
In 2005, he and the foundation provided the initial capital injection of approximately DKK 200 million (${{To USD|200000000|DNK|year=2005|round=yes}} USD) to build Danfoss Universe, an amusement and science park on the island of Als southeast of Jutland. He doubled down in 2012 giving DKK 60 million (${{To USD|60000000|DNK|year=2011|round=yes}} USD) more as the park dropped the Danfoss name and became an independent nonprofit.{{Cite web |last=Arkiv |date=2012-11-05 |title=Danfoss Universe minus Danfoss |url=https://dinavis.dk/arkiv/ECE15370067/danfoss-universe-minus-danfoss/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Din Avis |language=da}}
He has supported the University of Southern Denmark. In 2015, he donated DKK 1.22 million (${{To USD|1220000|DNK|year=2015|round=yes}} USD) to elevate a student pilot into a commercial prototype.{{Cite web |title=Million donation turns student project from MCI into energy venture in Sønderborg |url=https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/institutter-centre/mci_mads_clausen/nyheder/nyt_fra_mci/greenwater |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=sdu |language=en}} In 2016, he donated a further DKK 1 million (${{To USD|1000000|DNK|year=2016|round=yes}} USD) to create an InnovationLab for engineering and design students at the university's Mads Clausen Institute.{{Cite web |title=MCI news |url=https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/institutter-centre/mci_mads_clausen/nyheder/nyt_fra_mci |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=sdu |language=en}} In 2022, he funded the expansion and modernization of a sports complex in Sønderborg with DKK 17 million (${{To USD|17000000|DNK|year=2022|round=yes}} USD){{Cite web |title=En aften med fokus på Skansen-byggeri, håndbold-kamp og gymnastikopvisning {{!}} SønderborgNYT |url=https://www.sonderborgnyt.dk/en-aften-med-fokus-paa-skansen-byggeri-haandbold-kamp-og-gymnastikopvisning/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.sonderborgnyt.dk}} In 2024, he contributed DKK 10.3 million (${{To USD|10300000|DNK|year=|round=yes}} USD) towards a national nano‑chemical imaging infrastructure project led by SDU.{{Cite web |title=nanochem |url=https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/c_nanosyd/nanosyd-nyheder/nanochem |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=sdu |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mads Clausen Instituttet i spidsen for NANOCHEM {{!}} SønderborgNYT |url=https://www.sonderborgnyt.dk/mads-clausen-instituttet-i-spidsen-for-nanochem/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.sonderborgnyt.dk}} He also funded construction at Business College Syd giving DKK 10.3 million (${{To USD|10000000|DNK|year=2019|round=yes}} USD) in 2019.{{Cite web |title=Bitten & Mads Clausens Fond gi’r 10 millioner til byggeri af multihal i Mommark {{!}} SønderborgNYT |url=https://www.sonderborgnyt.dk/bitten-mads-clausens-fond-gir-10-millioner-til-byggeri-af-multihal-i-mommark/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.sonderborgnyt.dk}}
Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, Clausen donated DKK 7.5 million (${{To USD|7500000|DNK|year=2022|round=yes}} USD) to the Danish Refugee Council, Red Cross and Save the Children for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Mogensen |first=Pernille |date=2022-03-29 |title=Få overblikket: Sådan hjælper danske fonde Ukraine |url=https://fundats.dk/fagomraader/internationalt-humanitaert-arbejde/faa-overblikket-saadan-hjaelper-danske-fonde-ukraine/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Fundats |language=da-DK}}
Honors
Clausen has been made an honorary citizen of Nordborg in Alsace and Tianjin, China and a Knight of the 1st Class of the Norwegian Order of St. Olav in addition to multiple honors in his native Denmark.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-21 |title=Bitten Clausen, telefonistinde {{!}} lex.dk |url=https://kvindebiografiskleksikon.lex.dk/Bitten_Clausen |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon {{!}} Lex |language=da}}
- 2018: Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Claus Møller |date=2018-09-21 |title=Danfoss-arving får fornem orden af kongehuset {{!}} jv.dk |url=https://jv.dk/soenderborg/danfoss-arving-faar-fornem-orden-af-kongehuset |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=jv.dk |language=da}}
- 2010: Appointed Honorary Chamberlain{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Emil |date=2024-01-03 |title=Jørgen Mads Clausen har kendt Dronningen siden 1951: 'Chokerende nyt' |url=https://www.bt.dk/royale/joergen-mads-clausen-har-kendt-dronningen-siden-1951-chokerende-nyt |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www.bt.dk |language=da}}
- 2004: "Leader of the Year" award, Ledernes Hovedorganisation{{Cite web |title=Ledelsens Dag - Danmarks største digitale event for ledere |url=https://www.lederne.dk/ledelsens-dag/tidligere-vindere-af-aarets-leder |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www.lederne.dk |language=da}}
- 1990: Knight of the first degree, Order of the Dannebrog
- 1975: Knight, Order of the Dannebrog
Personal life
He flies himself in a Cessna Citation V and is a big-game hunter.{{Cite web |title=Portræt: Jørgen Mads Clausen stopper på toppen {{!}} Nyhederne.tv2.dk |url=http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/baggrund/article.php/id-12650155.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131203064453/http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/baggrund/article.php/id-12650155.html |archive-date=2013-12-03 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=nyhederne.tv2.dk |language=da}} In 2005, his net worth was estimated at $3.5 billion.{{Cite web |title=Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People 2005 |url=https://www.forbes.com/static/bill2005/LIRR1ME.html |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=www.forbes.com}} He is married to Anette Nøhr Clausen who he works with on charitable endeavors. They have two sons, Mads Nøhr Clausen and Marcus Nøhr Clausen.{{Cite web |title=Generational change at Danfoss: Portrait of Mads Clausen |url=https://www.sonderborgnyt.dk/danfoss-generationsskifte-mads-clausen-portraet/ |website=SonderborgNYT}}
Clausen supports free market economics. He is on the board of CEPOS. He opposes gender quotas on the boards of Danish state-owned companies stating they lead to less qualified boards.{{Cite web |title=Danfoss-chef angriber kønskvotering |url=https://politiken.dk/danmark/oekonomi/art4672054/Danfoss-chef-angriber-k%C3%B8nskvotering |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Politiken - Den levende avis |language=da-DK}} He has also criticized the Danish Tax Agency’s diesel tax rules calling for a crackdown on excessive bureaucracy and urged civil servants to apply common sense and more discretion.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-24 |title=Dieselsag får tidligere Danfoss-boss til at kræve opgør med bureaukrati |url=https://www.maskinbladet.dk/artikel/87387-dieselsag-faar-tidligere-danfoss-boss-til-at-krave-opgor-med-bureaukrati#:~:text=Danfoss,af%20stolen |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=www.maskinbladet.dk |language=da}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311025855/http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/10/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=10&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=R1ME&datatype=Person Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People]
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Category:20th-century Danish businesspeople
Category:People from Sønderborg Municipality
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
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