Villum Foundation appoints new director

Villum Foundation has appointed Lars Bo Nielsen as new director effective August 1, 2024. 

Lars Bo Nielsen comes from a role as Director General of the Danish Medicines Agency. As a medical specialist in clinical biochemistry, Ph.D. and Doctor of Medicine, he served as Dean and Professor at HEALTH at Aarhus University from 2017 to 2021. He has previously held positions as Professor and Head of Department of Clinical Medicine at Copenhagen University and Head of Department of Clinical Biochemistry at Rigshospitalet.   

“Lars Bo Nielsen is a highly experienced leader with a solid research background, possessing in-depth knowledge of the world of research and the natural sciences, combined with strong strategic understanding and political insight. We are very pleased to welcome him as new director of Villum Foundation, where he will lead the ongoing development of our efforts to create an informed world through research, education, and culture, as well as our work to combat climate change,” says Jens Kann-Rasmussen, Chairman of the Board at Villum Foundation. 

“As one of Denmark's largest non-profit foundations, Villum Foundation plays an important societal role and contributes through its philanthropic activities to addressing many of the challenges we face as a society today. I look forward to continuing this work together with the foundation's employees in close dialogue with grant recipients and partners," says Lars Bo Nielsen. 

Lars Bo Nielsen takes over from outgoing director Lars Hansen.