The institute’s Foundation Board unanimously approved Knudstorp’s appointment following a recommendation by its Supervisory Board. Gilbert Achermann, designated Chair of Sonova, Chairman of Unilabs and Ypsomed, will serve as Vice-Chair.
Knudstorp and Achermann will succeed current Chair Michel Demaré and Vice-Chair Hanne de Mora, who step down at the end of 2025 after completing four and three full terms, respectively.
“We have decided it is time to pass on the board leadership and will not seek re-election after 2025. The timing is right from a governance perspective, as nine to 12 years is the recommended best practice,” explained Demaré, who also serves as Chair of the Board at AstraZeneca Plc.
“IMD is committed to stewardship, ensuring leaders leave the organization stronger than they found it. We have spent the last year preparing this succession, including selecting David Bach as our new President. We believe Jørgen and Gilbert will form a complementary team. We are confident that IMD’s future is secure under the new leadership,” he added.
IMD’s Foundation Board is its highest governing body, comprised of more than 50 diverse leaders and stakeholders representing IMD’s partners, academic peers, alumni, and faculty. The body scrutinizes and approves IMD’s strategic direction and financial results, and elects new board members, at an annual meeting each November.
The Supervisory Board, with nine members, continuously oversees and supports the work of the IMD President, including approving business goals, financial targets, annual budgets, and strategic guidelines.
A long-term corporate learning partner of IMD and the current Deputy Chair of the Lego Foundation, Knudstorp has been a member of the Foundation Board for 18 years and joined the Supervisory Board in 2022. He is also on the boards of the LEGO A/S Group and Starbucks.
Achermann, an IMD EMBA 2000 alumnus, joined the Foundation and Supervisory Boards in 2019. He has contributed to IMD’s learning journeys as an Executive-in-Residence since 2016, and currently holds the position of Chairman of Unilabs and Ypsomed, as well as the designated chair of the Sonova Holding AG. Previously, Achermann served as Chair, CEO and CFO at the Straumann Group.
Päivi Rekonen, Chair of the Board of Amina Bank, will be joining the Supervisory Board as of 1 January 2025. She is also a member of the boards of Konecranes and Wipro. Former CEO and Chair of Egon Zehnder, Damien O’Brien, who has been a Supervisory Board member since 2012, has decided to not stand for re-election.
