A chair transition at H. Lundbeck A/S opens with former Novo Nordisk President and CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen joining as a board observer Nov. 10, ahead of a 2027 shareholder vote on his director election.
In an Oct. 18 announcement, Lundbeck said Chair Dorothea Wenzel had told fellow directors she planned to leave the role in connection with the 2027 annual general meeting. The board intends to appoint Jørgensen as chair after the meeting, if shareholders approve his election as a director.
Jørgensen is scheduled to take the observer role on Nov. 10, 2026, and remain in it until the AGM. Lundbeck’s 2026 AGM notice says directors elected by shareholders face an election or re-election each year. The company said it will identify proposed board candidates in the notice for the 2027 meeting.
Jørgensen served as Novo Nordisk’s president and CEO from January 2017 through Aug. 7, 2025. Maziar Mike Doustdar succeeded him as president and CEO on that date, according to Novo Nordisk announcements.
Wenzel joined Lundbeck’s board in 2021 and became chair after the March 2025 AGM. She followed Lars Søren Rasmussen, who did not seek re-election; before that meeting, the board had said it planned to appoint Wenzel as chair.
Lundbeck said the proposed succession comes as it prepares to enter the Scale phase of its Focused Innovator strategy, which it describes as aimed at turning recent progress into sustainable long-term growth. Vice Chair Lene Skole said the plan would “ensure continuity in the leadership of the Board.”
Jørgensen said he hoped to support the company’s next phase for patients, employees and shareholders, describing the opportunity as “chairing Lundbeck at such a pivotal moment.” Shareholders are due to consider his proposed election at the 2027 AGM; Lundbeck will list the candidates in the notice convening the meeting.
