Jørgen Mads Clausen
Jørgen Mads Clausen | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1948 |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, benefactor |
| Known for | CEO of Danfoss (1996–2009), Chairman of Danfoss (2009–2022), President of DI (Danish Industry) |
Jørgen Mads Clausen (born 23 September 1948) is a prominent Danish entrepreneur and benefactor. He led Danfoss, the Danish company specializing in heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning originally established by his father, Mads Clausen, as CEO from 1996 until 2009, subsequently serving as chairman until 2022. The enterprise continues to be under family ownership. Clausen also presides over DI, the Danish Industry association, and holds a major stake in the WaveStar wave energy initiative.
Education
Clausen completed a degree in civil engineering at the Technical University of Denmark in 1972 and obtained an MBA from the University of Wisconsin in 1975.
Career
In 1978, Clausen launched an IT startup based in Copenhagen, which ultimately ceased operations resulting in personal financial losses. He joined Danfoss in 1981 as head of technical coordination and research and was appointed to the executive board by 1990.
Clausen became Danfoss’s CEO in 1996, marking the first time a family member led the company since his father passed away in 1966. After twelve years at the helm, he resigned as CEO in 2008 and assumed the role of chairman in April 2009. At that stage, Danfoss reported annual revenues of DKK 22 billion (about $2.2 billion USD) and employed 22,000 people across 25 nations.
He relinquished the chairmanship on March 25, 2022, transferring leadership to successors while maintaining a role as chairman emeritus. Throughout his leadership, Danfoss strengthened its global standing within heating and industrial technology sectors.
Outside of Danfoss, Clausen is active on the boards of Risø Research Center, the Academy of Technical Sciences, and the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation.
Philanthropy
A significant philanthropist, Clausen concentrates his charitable efforts on Southern Denmark primarily through the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation, which he chaired until 2022 and which annually allocates over DKK 100 million (around $100 million USD).
In 2005, he and the foundation invested roughly DKK 200 million ($200 million USD) to create Danfoss Universe, a science and amusement park located on the island of Als. His support increased in 2012 with an additional DKK 60 million ($60 million USD) as the park transitioned into an autonomous nonprofit entity.
Clausen has made targeted contributions to the University of Southern Denmark: DKK 1.22 million ($1.22 million USD) in 2015 to support a student pilot project; DKK 1 million ($1 million USD) in 2016 for establishing an InnovationLab at the Mads Clausen Institute; and DKK 10.3 million ($10.3 million USD) in 2024 toward a national nano-chemical imaging infrastructure initiative led by SDU. Additionally, he financed a DKK 10.3 million ($10 million USD) building project at Business College Syd in 2019.
In 2022, Clausen donated DKK 17 million ($17 million USD) for the expansion and modernization of a sports facility in Sønderborg. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he contributed DKK 7.5 million ($7.5 million USD) to humanitarian agencies such as the Danish Refugee Council, Red Cross, and Save the Children to support relief operations.
Honors
Clausen holds honorary citizenship in both Nordborg in Alsace and Tianjin, China. He has been distinguished as a Knight 1st Class of the Norwegian Order of St. Olav and has received several accolades within Denmark, including:
- 2018: Commander rank of the Order of the Dannebrog
- 2010: Honorary appointment as Chamberlain
- 2004: Recipient of the "Leader of the Year" award from Ledernes Hovedorganisation
- 1990: Knight 1st degree, Order of the Dannebrog
- 1975: Knighted in the Order of the Dannebrog
Personal life
An avid pilot, Clausen flies a Cessna Citation V and pursues big-game hunting. His net worth was appraised at approximately $3.5 billion in 2005. He is married to Anette Nøhr Clausen, with whom he partners on philanthropic initiatives. Together, they have two sons: Mads Nøhr Clausen and Marcus Nøhr Clausen.
Clausen is a proponent of free market principles and holds a board position at CEPOS. He stands against implementing gender quotas on boards of Danish state-owned enterprises, believing such measures diminish board effectiveness. Furthermore, he has voiced criticism regarding the Danish Tax Agency’s diesel tax policies, advocating for streamlined bureaucracy and encouraging civil servants to exercise greater discretion and practical judgment.