Bjarne Corydon
Bjarne Corydon | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1, 1973 Kolding, Denmark |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Known for | Finance Minister of Denmark (2011–2015), Director General of DR (since 2025) |
Bjarne Fog Corydon (born 1 March 1973) is a Danish entrepreneur and politician affiliated with the Social Democrats. He served as a member of the Folketing from 2011 until 2016 and held the position of Finance Minister of Denmark in the Cabinet led by Helle Thorning-Schmidt between 2011 and 2015, having previously acted as her personal secretary. Since 2025, he has been serving as the Director General of DR.
Early life
Born on 1 March 1973 in Kolding, Corydon spent his childhood near Skovparken, an area currently designated as a ghetto. He is the son of Arne Corydon, a landscape gardener, and Tove Corydon, who worked as a secretary. To contribute to the household income, he assisted his father with tile installation during his youth and supported his mother through her struggles with mental health issues.
While attending the local gymnasium, Corydon cultivated interests in politics and literature, particularly the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, alongside participating in football. After completing his secondary education, he pursued higher studies at Aarhus University from 1992 to 2000, obtaining a Candidate degree in Political Science.
Career
Corydon was elected to the Folketing in 2011 and was appointed as Denmark’s Finance Minister by Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. During his tenure, he managed the contentious 2014 privatization of Danish energy company DONG, selling it to American investment firm Goldman Sachs. This decision led to the withdrawal of the Socialist People's Party from the governing coalition.
After stepping down from parliament in 2016, Corydon transitioned to the private sector by joining consulting firm McKinsey & Co. Two years later, in 2018, he assumed the role of CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Dagbladet Børsen, one of Denmark’s foremost business newspapers.
Personal life
He is married to Nina Eg Hansen, who has been Director at the Ministry of Social Affairs since 2012 after serving there for ten years. Together, they have four children.