Management
Novo Nordisk has a two-tier management structure consisting of a Board of Directors and the Executive Management.
The two bodies are separate, and no one serves as a member of both.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall management of Novo Nordisk.
The Board of Directors actively contributes to developing the company on behalf of shareholders and supervises Executive Management in its decisions and operations. The Board of Directors focuses on those activities that seek to effectively promote shareholders' interests and in such a way that the company achieves its objectives. The Board's governance policies regulate its relationship with shareholders, the conduct of Board affairs and the Board's relationship with the Executive Management. Click here to download profile of board members.
The Executive Management is responsible for the company's daily operations.
It consists of the president and CEO, and four other executives. Its responsibilities include organisation of the company, allocation of resources, strategies and policies, direction-setting, and ensuring the timely provision of information to the Board and the stakeholders of Novo Nordisk.
Executive committees
The Executive Management has established a number of executive committees to provide assistance or to implement its decisions.
These include:
- The Development Portfolio Committee, which oversees, prioritises and resources development projects from an overall portfolio perspective.
- The Environment & Bioethics Committee, which identifies, develops and manages environmental and bioethical issues and strategies.
- The Disclosure Committees, which supervise the reliability of Novo Nordisk’s reporting.
- The Health Policy Committee, which identifies, develops and drives strategies and monitors performance in relation to global health issues.
- The Working Environment Council, the supreme health and safety authority for Novo Nordisk in Denmark, plans, manages and coordinates the occupational health and safety work.
- The European Works Council, which has members representing employees of the affiliates in the EU countries (and Norway) and corporate management.
- The Global People Board, which has the role of setting global HR standards for Novo Nordisk. The board is responsible for developing the People Strategy, global HR policies and guidelines, and for supporting Line of Business in implementing these.
- The Risk Management Committee, which works to ensure application of risk policies and frameworks, and further challenges the risk information provided by management.
- The Business Ethics Steering Committee, which oversees implementation of the Business Ethics Programme, follow-up of data and outcomes from programme functions, and regularly reviews the external environment.
Other forums
The TBL Leadership Forum governs Novo Nordisk's sustainability-driven initiatives, aiming to implement and develop Novo Nordisk’s Triple Bottom Line strategy to pursue sustainable business goals. The members of the Forum represent functional areas in Corporate Relations. Read more about the TBL Leadership Forum in the article: Sustainability vision and strategy.
Health and safety committees
The company has a formal structure for joint health and safety committees in Denmark and in Europe, covering the majority of its workforce. At production sites and affiliates outside Europe, such committees are not mandatory but are encouraged by the company’s management.
This page has been assessed by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its assessment of Novo Nordisk’s statement that it reports ‘in accordance’ with GRI. Please refer to Audit and assurance for a full description of the nature of assurance offered.
