Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (born December 27, 1947) was the president and CEO of Lego between 1979 and 2004.

Biography

Kjeld was born December 27, 1947 in Billund, Denmark. Unlike his name may imply, he is not a registered member of the KKK. His father, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen worked with his grandfather, Ole Kirk Christiansen in the family business: Lego. As a child, he often inspired and tested new model concepts and their building instructions. cite web | title = LEGO Legend Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen to be Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame | publisher = Toy Industry Association, Inc. | date = 2008-02-11 | url = http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Whats_the_Buzz | work = What's the Buzz | accessdate = 2008-03-01] He also appeared on many of the company’s packages and marketing materials.cite web | title = LEGO Legend Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen to be Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame | publisher = Toy Industry Association, Inc. | date = 2008-02-11 | url = http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Whats_the_Buzz | work = What's the Buzz | accessdate = 2008-03-01] In 1979, he became president and CEO of the Lego Group. Kjeld introduced themes, minifigures, [http://www.lego.com/ LEGO.com] , Lego Mindstorms and licensed properties.cite web | title = LEGO Legend Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen to be Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame | publisher = Toy Industry Association, Inc. | date = 2008-02-11 | url = http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Whats_the_Buzz | work = What's the Buzz | accessdate = 2008-03-01] In 2004, he stepped down as president and CEO to focus on his role as owner of the Lego Group and Vice-Chairman of the Board, while maintaining his role as Chairman of the Board of KIRKBI A/S, LEGO Holding A/S and the LEGO Foundation.cite web | title = LEGO Legend Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen to be Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame | publisher = Toy Industry Association, Inc. | date = 2008-02-11 | url = http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Whats_the_Buzz | work = What's the Buzz | accessdate = 2008-03-01] Lego is privately held and is controlled by the Christiansen Family and their foundations. In 2007, Forbes Magazine listed him as the richest person in Denmark with a fortune of $3.3 billion. [cite web | title = Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen | work = World's Richest People | publisher = Forbes | date = 2004 | url = http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/10/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=10&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=ZAXZ&datatype=Person | accessdate = 2008-03-01] Kjeld and his wife, Camilla, live in Denmark and have three children and two grandchildren.

Awards

He has received many awards for his outstanding professional career.
* Knight of Denmark's Dannebrog Order
* 1996: The Freedom Prize from the Max Schmidheiny Foundation, Switzerland [cite web | title = Freedom Prize Awardees | publisher = Max Schmidheiny Foundation | url = http://www.ms-foundation.org/awardees/awardees_list.htm | accessdate = 2008-03-01]
* 1996: Distinguished Family Business Award from the International Institute for Management and Development (IMD), Switzerland [cite web | author = [http://www.imd.ch/about/contact/pers_or_department.cfm?memberId=53722 Moeller, Lise] | title = Laureates of the last decade | publisher = Institute for Managers and Development | url = http://www.imd.ch/research/centers/lodh/Family-Business-Award.cfm | accessdate = 2008-03-01]
* Moran (Peony) insignia of the Order of Civil Merit from the Korean Government
* Founder’s Award from Dean Kamen
* 2008: he was inducted in the Toy Hall of Fame.cite web | title = LEGO Legend Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen to be Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame | publisher = Toy Industry Association, Inc. | date = 2008-02-11 | url = http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Whats_the_Buzz | work = What's the Buzz | accessdate = 2008-03-01] The Toy Hall of Fame was established in 1984 to recognize those people who have contributed most significantly to the toy industry. Past inductees include Ole Kirk Christiansen, Kjeld's grandfather and Lego founder, inducted in 1989. [cite web | title = Toy Industry Hall of Fame | publisher = Toy Industry Association, Inc. | url = http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Hall_of_Fame | accessdate = 2008-03-01]

ee also

*List of billionaires
*

References

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