Lars Rebien Sørensen

Lars Rebien Sørensen is one of Europe's leading bio-industrialists, the president and Chief Executive Officer of Danish healthcare giant Novo Nordisk A/S.

Born in 1954, he gained a Masters degree in forestry from Copenhagen's Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University and, in 1983, a BSc in International Economics from the Copenhagen Business School.

He joined Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, in 1982, working in its Enzymes Marketing department. He was made a member of Corporate Management in 1994, and in 2000 was appointed company President and CEO.

One of three companies under the Novo umbrella, along with Novozymes A/S and Novo A/S, Novo Nordisk A/S has over 20,000 employees in 68 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries.

Although involved in pioneering research in the fields of haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy, the company is best known for its ground-breaking work in diabetes treatment, and it is here that Sørensen's main passion lies.

He was one of the founding members of the World Diabetes Foundation - on whose board he also sits - and has often said his greatest wish is to see a cure for diabetes in his lifetime.

In addition to his work with Novo Nordisk A/S he is also a board member of ZymoGenetics, Inc. and Scandinavian Airlines.