Mentor list / Mentor bio
Overview
Niels Jacobsen was CEO of Demant Group, a global leader in hearing healthcare. Under his leadership from 1998 to 2017, Demant evolved from a single-brand hearing aid firm into a diversified, innovation-driven healthcare powerhouse—growing revenue from DKK 0.5 billion to over DKK 12 billion, with operating profit rising to DKK 2 billion and global headcount expanding to more than 12,000.
He is currently CEO of William Demant Invest A/S and Deputy Chair of Demant A/S. He also chairs Jeudan A/S, Vision RT Ltd (a UK-based cancer radiotherapy specialist), and Embla Medical hf. He was previously Chair of the Board at LEGO A/S, and was Vice-Chair of KIRKBI A/S, the family office behind LEGO. Niels was previously Chair of About You, one of the fastest growing e-commerce companies in Europe, and a Non-Executive Director at Novo Nordisk and Vice Chair of A P Moller Maersk.
Niels began his journey in Denmark’s industrial sector, first with Thrige‑Titan, then serving as CEO of Orion A/S.
He brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Industrial & healthcare governance – chairing global boards in consumer health, medtech, and industrial investment
• Corporate leadership & transformation – scaling businesses through acquisitions, innovation and international expansion
• Board strategy & capital stewardship – guiding long-term investment via William Demant Invest and family-owned platforms
• Technology commercialisation & institutional oversight – leading high-impact companies in the medtech and real estate sectors
His foundation in economics (MSc, Aarhus University), underpins a disciplined, data-driven leadership style and deep proficiency in finance, risk management, and M&A. He was honoured as Nordic Board Chair of the Year (2013) and a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog (2010),
Niels combines rare depth across ownership structures. Fluent across global corporate models -from listed giants to family trusts -he is renowned for his governance rigour and ability to cultivate leadership ecosystems that blend innovation with lasting institutional integrity.
PDF Profile
download pdf profileMajor Career Roles
Demant Group
CEO
William Demant Invest AS
CEO
Novo Nordisk AS
Board member
LEGO Group
Chair
A.P. Møller – Mærsk AS
Vice Chair
About You Holding GmbH
Deputy Chair
Ossur hf.
Chair
Other Career Highlights
LEGO Group
Chair
A.P. Møller – Mærsk AS
Independent Vice Chair
Novo Nordisk AS
Independent Board member