Jörgen Lindegaard
Encyclopedia
Jørgen Lindegaard is a Danish
businessman. He has held several major posts in large Danish
and Scandinavia
n companies. Most famously, he was CEO of the SAS Group
from May 2001 - late 2006.
from the Technical University of Denmark
in 1975 and immediately joined Philips Telekommunikation, a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips
conglomerate, where he stayed until 1977. At that time he joined Fyns Telefon, a now defunct regional unit of the Danish national telecoms company TDC A/S
. In 1991, after 14 years at Fyns Telefon, he joined KTAS
the regional equivalent telecoms unit for Copenhagen
where he stayed for 4 years until joining GN Store Nord
.
After more than 25 years in the telecoms industry he was headhunted to become the CEO of SAS, where he oversaw a turbulent time in the international aviation
industry including 9/11 and the deadly crash at Milan Linate of Scandinavian Airlines flight SK686 on October 8, 2001. At the same time, rising oil prices and several staff disputes over pay, staff cuts and working conditions hampered his ability to institute the necessary turn-around at SAS. At the time of his departure, the company was still in severe financial difficulties. He left the company in 2006 to become the CEO of the world's largest facilities management company, and Denmark's largest global employer, ISS A/S
.
At the press conference in Stockholm announcing his resignation from SAS on May 16, 2006 he publicly admitted that he was burnt out and said:
"It is possible to lose sight of the commercial side of the business when you're so highly focused on the costs, and now, somebody else has to take on the job. However, it is clear that further cost cuts are still needed, as well as commercial initiatives, at SAS".
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
businessman. He has held several major posts in large Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n companies. Most famously, he was CEO of the SAS Group
SAS Group
Scandinavian Airlines System Aktiebolag , trading as SAS Group and SAS AB, is a holding company based in Solna, Sweden. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities, SAS Cargo Group, SAS Ground...
from May 2001 - late 2006.
Education and career
Jørgen Lindegaard graduated with a Masters degree in Civil EngineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from the Technical University of Denmark
Technical University of Denmark
The Technical University of Denmark , often simply referred to as DTU, is a university just north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in 1829 at the initiative of Hans Christian Ørsted as Denmark's first polytechnic, and is today ranked among Europe's leading engineering institutions, and the...
in 1975 and immediately joined Philips Telekommunikation, a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
conglomerate, where he stayed until 1977. At that time he joined Fyns Telefon, a now defunct regional unit of the Danish national telecoms company TDC A/S
TDC A/S
TDC A/S is the former telecom monopoly in Denmark. It is now privatized. Thus, it is the biggest company in all aspects of telecommunications in Denmark with landline, mobile, Internet, VHF maritime borderline-radio etc.By the end of 2004, the TDC Group had more than 13.4 mil. customers in Europe:...
. In 1991, after 14 years at Fyns Telefon, he joined KTAS
KTAS
KTAS is a Spanish-language television station in San Luis Obispo, California, broadcasting locally on 34 as an affiliate of Telemundo. The station is owned by Raul & Consuelo Palazuelos...
the regional equivalent telecoms unit for Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
where he stayed for 4 years until joining GN Store Nord
Great Northern Telegraph Company
The Great Northern Telegraph Company was a Danish telegraph company founded in June 1869...
.
After more than 25 years in the telecoms industry he was headhunted to become the CEO of SAS, where he oversaw a turbulent time in the international aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
industry including 9/11 and the deadly crash at Milan Linate of Scandinavian Airlines flight SK686 on October 8, 2001. At the same time, rising oil prices and several staff disputes over pay, staff cuts and working conditions hampered his ability to institute the necessary turn-around at SAS. At the time of his departure, the company was still in severe financial difficulties. He left the company in 2006 to become the CEO of the world's largest facilities management company, and Denmark's largest global employer, ISS A/S
ISS A/S
ISS was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1901 and has since grown to become one of the leading Facility Services companies in the world. ISS offers a wide range of services within the following business areas: cleaning services, support services, property services, catering services, security...
.
At the press conference in Stockholm announcing his resignation from SAS on May 16, 2006 he publicly admitted that he was burnt out and said:
"It is possible to lose sight of the commercial side of the business when you're so highly focused on the costs, and now, somebody else has to take on the job. However, it is clear that further cost cuts are still needed, as well as commercial initiatives, at SAS".