When the President of the United States, Donald Trump announced that it will impose duties on Denmark if the country does not resign in Greenland’s control, the country’s prime minister, Meth Fredericksen He did not turn to a CEO team to advise her on how to handle the subject. On the contrary, he addressed In the 58 -year -old Lars Fragarter JorgensenManaging Director of the Danish Pharmaceutical Company Novo nordisk – Known for the preparation of famous drugs Ozempic and wegovy Against diabetes mellitus but also famous as auxiliary weight loss.

The query is Why Mette Fredericks asked the tips from the quiet and restrained 58 -year -old CEO on how Denmark handle the US president.

According to Politico, when the 58 -year -old entered Novo Nordisk in 1991 as an economist he had “no ambition, no idea”. He did not aspire to run an entire company, but Novo believed in his abilities. Whatever insecurity he had, they were dismissed when he eventually became a CEO of the company.

Jorgensen was among the business leaders called Fredericksen to critical talks held last January after Trump refused to exclude the possible military or financial action to take control of Greenland. In addition, he said he would impose duties on products from Denmark if Copenhagen rejected his offer to buy the Arctic island.

Novo’s rise

Politico refers to the great success of the company with a turnover of EUR 38.9 billion in 2024 – of which € 13.5 billion was profit – which represents almost half of Danish GDP growth.

The company has long been famous for its anti -diabetes medicines, but it has begun to become even more well -known when it was found that two of them against diabetes, OZEMPIC and Wegovy help, among other things, weight loss. For Wegovy, clinical trials showed that patients lost on average 15 to 16% of their body weight after just over a year. Both drugs contain semaglutide, which mimics a hormone released after eating, fooling the brain to feel complete.

Wegovy’s approval – 2021 in the US and 2022 in Europe – changed the game for the company.

Celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, Ilon Musk, reinforced his profile, while Senator Bernie Sanders said that Semaglutide “can end up being one of the best medicinal products in human history”. And all this rise in the company was marked during the Kingdom of Jorgensen, A place that has been held since 2017, when it became only the fifth person who led the company in its 100 -year history.

But despite this enormous success, Jorgensen continued with humility to serve the company.

“He is considered more as a civil servant than as a CEO,” said a Danish diplomat in Politico, maintaining his anonymity.

Operating in times of crisis

Trump’s threat of duties against Denmark is perhaps the biggest headache that Novo’s chief executive had to face as long as he is in this position. Last year, 58% of Novo’s sales came from the US – 79% of sales from Wegovy and 70% of OZEMPIC sales.

Asked about duties at a press conference in February, Jorgensen said that Novo “had no immunity, but we are confident that our business is in good position to meet the demands of the new government [των ΗΠΑ]”

The other major crisis he was called upon to face was the Covid-19 pandemic. Although not a vaccine manufacturer, the company had to navigate the disturbed supply chains.

“If I have to solve the problems, this is a problem,” Jorgensen told Bloomberg last year. The company created a crisis response team, but Jorgensen did not attend initially and let others lead it. “I knew that if I put myself on it I would be an obstacle,” he said.

But he does not always want to have the first say, Politico comments. “I was born with a big nose and big ears and I use these features every day to collect opinions from the company. Then my role is to combine my opinion with that of my team, ”he said.

His position in the EU

Jorgensen prefers to spend his time in Denmark rather than in Brussels, but Novo’s presence in discussions on a major revision of European pharmaceutical laws seems to be very important, according to Politico.

The country is the most ardent supporter of the EU pharmaceutical industry, where countries are currently negotiating their position on legislative reform.

Assistants of Danish members of the European Parliament have tried to introduce amendments to the text of Parliament to make it more favorable to industry, the official said. However, those who have met Jorgensen say they are thoughtful and with respect. “Courtesy and quiet, as if he were genuine interest in what I and his staff were saying rather than listening to himself speak,” said a parliament official. “He seemed a lot of knowledge.”

And this style it has is what makes many believe that it will surely do well with the US president, who calls himself “perhaps the most honest human being” that God has ever created.