Danish pensions lobby Insurance & Pension Denmark (IPD) has just revealed the identity of its new leader as the association tries to take a more active role, hiring the Confederation of Danish Industry’s (DI) political director to replace its long-time chief executive officer.
Kent Damsgaard, the DI director heading up political and related areas, has been appointed as the new CEO of IPD from 1 September, replacing Per Bremer Rasmussen, who is leaving the top job at the association on 1 August after 15 years in the role.
Laila Mortensen, chair of IPD’s supervisory board, said: “We want Insurance & Pension Denmark to continue at its high level of professionalism and at the same time play an even more active role in ensuring the industry has a good framework for providing the best solutions to the individual Dane.”
The board believed Damsgaard was the right person to be at the forefront of this work, said Mortensen, who is CEO of the labour-market pension fund Industriens Pension.
When Bremer Rasmussen’s resignation was announced in February, he said a new CEO should be the one to roll out the association’s new action plan “Strategy 2025”, which had been adopted by the supervisory board at the end of 2019.
That plan stated that the insurance and pensions industry wanted to be known for its contribution to solving some of the biggest challenges facing Danish and international society, and emphasised the welfare and security of individuals, alongside sustainability and the green transition in Denmark and abroad.
“Kent Damsgaard is used to leading professional environments, he is a skilled networker and has long experience safeguarding interests at the highest level,” Mortensen said.
“At the same time, he is a recognised leader who can prioritise and motivate, and he can also communicate clearly,” she said.
Before working at DI, Damsgaard has been a deputy director of Denmark’s largest pension fund ATP, a head of department at the Danish Ministry of Taxation and chief economist at the Liberal Party of former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Incoming CEO Damsgaard said the insurance and pensions sector was a key player in ensuring the welfare and security of the individual Dane, as well as in the green transition of Danish society.
“At the same time, the industry is facing major changes and opportunities as a result of digital development. So there are many important community agendas that we need to be driven by,” he said.
No comments yet