Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen (born 29 November 1966) is a Danish businessman and has been the chief executive of

Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsværd, with production facilities in nine countries and affiliates or offices in five. Novo Nordisk is controlled by majority shareholder Novo Holdings A/S ...

since January 2017. He is the chairman of the

European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) is a Brussels-based trade association and lobbying organisation, founded in 1978 and representing the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its membershi ...

Early life and education

Jørgensen was educated at the Cathedral School of Viborg.Hannah Kuchler
"FT Person of the Year: Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen of Novo Nordisk"
''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

'', 19 December 2023, accessed 6 January 2024 In 1991 Jørgensen earned an MSc in Finance & Business Administration from

Aarhus University Aarhus University (, abbreviated AU) is a public research university. Its main campus is located in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the second largest and second oldest university in Denmark. The university is part of the Coimbra Group, the Guild, and Ut ...

Career

In 1991, Jørgensen joined Novo Nordisk as an economist in Health Care, Economy & Planning. He was appointed as vice-president for IT and Corporate Development in 2004. In January 2013, he was appointed as executive vice president and chief information officer. In November 2014 oversaw Corporate People & Organization and Business Assurance. In September 2016, it was announced that Jørgensen would succeed Lars Rebien Sørensen as CEO of Novo Nordisk, after Sørensen had announced his departure at the end of the year."Midtjysk topchef i Novo Nordisk"
amtsavisen.dk, 22 September 2016, accessed 6 January 2024 (in Danish) In January 2017, Mr. Jørgensen was appointed president and chief executive officer. Jørgensen is President of the

and member of the Board of Directors at

Danmarks Nationalbank Danmarks Nationalbank (in Danish often simply ''Nationalbanken'') is the central bank of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is a non-eurozone member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). Since its establishment in 1818, the objecti ...

. He has also served as a member of several company boards of directors, including Innate Pharma in France, Harno Invest, NNIT, and NNE Pharmaplan. Jørgensen was named as the ''Financial Times'' Person of the Year in December 2023. On May 16, 2025, Novo announced that Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen will step down as CEO of Novo.

Senate hearing

On September 24, 2024, Jørgensen appeared before the Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor, and Pensions to defend Ozempic and Wegovy drug pricing. The committee, led by

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician and activist who is the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from the state of Vermont. He is the longest-serving independ ...

, reiterated the point that drug prices should be substantially lowered. Jørgensen reiterated that

pharmacy benefit managers In the United States, a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is a third-party administrator of prescription drug programs for commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, ...

, PBMs, lower coverage when prices have a lower list price, thus making the access to the drugs harder for individuals. Sanders claimed three of the top PBMs promised to not reduce access if prices are lowered, however, Jørgensen had his doubts to these claims. Jørgensen reiterated that he will support any effort to help patients access the drug.

Roger Marshall Roger Wayne Marshall (born August 9, 1960) is an American politician, physician, and former military officer serving as the junior United States senator from Kansas since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he served from 2017 to 2021 as ...

, a physician, sided with Novo Nordisk and showed sympathy saying Novo Nordisk "is not a villain in this story, they're a hero."

Honours

*May 2019: Knight of the

Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Denmark, Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V of Denmark, Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single cla ...

*2020: Lederne Leader of the Year *December 2023:

Financial Times Person of the Year The ''Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the ...

*2024 Time Magazine 100 most influential people in health

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jørgensen, Lars Fruergaard 1966 births Danish business executives Novo Nordisk people Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog Living people