Helge Lund

Overview

Helge Lund, born 16 October 1962, is a Norwegian businessman who served as chairman of the Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk from 2018 until October 2025. He holds an M.B.A. from INSEAD and an M.A. in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics & Business Administration. Lund is currently an operating advisor for Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and holds directorships at multiple international organizations.

Lund started his career as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company and as political adviser for the Conservative Party in the Norwegian parliament Stortinget, before starting work for Hafslund Nycomed in 1993. In 1997-8 he was vice president in Nycomed Pharma before starting work in Aker RGI in 1999 as vice president before becoming CEO for Aker Kværner in 2002.

Career History

• CEO of BG Group (2015–2016)
• President & CEO of Statoil/StatoilHydro (2004–2014)
• CEO of Aker Kværner (2002–2004)
• Chairman of BP plc (2019–2025)
• Non-executive director at Nokia (2011–2014) and Schlumberger (2016–2018)

Notable Achievements at Statoil: During his 10-year tenure at Statoil, Lund oversaw a yearly shareholder return of 11.2 percent – 2.3 percentage points above the industry average – and grew the company's market capitalisation from €22bn to €59bn. During his tenure at Statoil, Lund guided the company through a period of aggressive international expansion, diversification into renewables, and the transformative 2007 merger with Norsk Hydro's oil and gas operations to create StatoilHydro.

Recent Departure from Novo Nordisk: In October 2025, Novo Nordisk announced that Lund and six independent board members would not stand for re-election at an extraordinary general meeting, following a disagreement with the Novo Nordisk Foundation—its controlling shareholder—over the scale of proposed board changes. At the meeting on 14 November 2025, the Foundation used its voting majority to approve a new board slate and install Lars Rebien Sørensen as chair.