Honorary doctor named Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation
NEWS
Lars Heikensten, honorary doctor at Umeå University and former Governor of Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank), will take over as Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation in May 2011. During 1998-2002, he was Chairman of the Board at Umeå School of Business.
"Lars Heikensten has a background deeply rooted in research, public administration and the banking world, as well as an extensive international contact network. This makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the Nobel Foundation, and we are very pleased to have recruited him," says Marcus Storch, Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation.
In 2005, Lars Heikensten received an honorary doctor appointment by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Umeå University. Throughout his professional career, he has held several leading and demanding positions, has actively participated in social debates and been a valuable member on the boards and committees of various companies, government authorities and think tanks.
Lars Heikensten was Govenor of Sveriges Riksbank during 2003-2006, and since then has been a member of the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg. Between 1998 and 2002, Lars Heikensten was the Chairman of the Board at Umeå School of Business, Umeå University, and his valuable and insightful viewpoints greatly contributed to the development of the school and its expansion. Even after his period on the board, he has continued to work for the school in various forms.
On 1 May 2011, he will officially succeed Michael Sohlman as Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.
