The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center (CORC) at Aarhus University is expanding its management team and appointing a head of operations. The new head of operations will be Anita Friis Sommer, who will join the centre from a similar position at the LEGO Group. At the LEGO Group, Anita is responsible for developing and implementing solutions to increase sustainable production at LEGO factories around the world, as well as for reaching the Group's goal of reducing its carbon footprint and being completely carbon-neutral by 2050.

Anita Friis Sommer has a Master of Science in Engineering (Manufacturing Technology) and a PhD degree in product development management from Aalborg University. She also has experience as a research director and postdoc from the University of Cambridge and is currently chair of the Industrial Research Committee at Innovation Fund Denmark.

This means CORC will be getting a manager with solid knowledge about sustainable production in industry, plenty of management experience and a high degree of familiarity with academia.

Eskild Holm Nielsen, dean of Technical Sciences at Aarhus University and member of the board of the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center, is looking forward to welcoming Anita Friis Sommer: 

"Anita Friis Sommer is a very competent leader with an international outlook, and she has experience in developing strategies, pursuing them and achieving results. All of which give her the best possible starting point for stepping into the position as head of operations at CORC. I’m very much looking forward to working with her," says Eskild Holm Nielsen.

As head of operations, Anita Friis Sommer and the rest of the management team will drive CORC's vision for creating knowledge about the capture and conversion of CO₂. Her tasks will include establishing and maintaining collaborations across Aarhus University, as well as nationally and internationally. Additionally, she will be responsible for the center's daily operations.

Birgit Schiøtt, dean at Natural Sciences and a member of the board of CORC, highlights Anita Friis Sommer’s experience with collaboration across different sectors.

"Anita Friis Sommer is a great motivator and visionary, and she is a talented and agreeable person with an impressive CV and network. This will be a huge advantage in our shared efforts to develop CORC," says Birgit Schiøtt.

Anita Friis Sommer is looking forward to working on the research behind sustainability and carbon emissions.

"The climate challenge is one of the most important agendas facing our generation. My current job centres on solving the challenges facing industry, but we can only get so far without the right solutions to establish carbon-neutral supply chains. That's why I'm very much looking forward to getting involved in developing the crucial new ideas that will be foundational to achieving the goals of the green transition," says Anita Friis Sommer.

Anita Friis Sommer also finds it important to be an attentive leader with focus on people.

"Motivation and well-being are crucial for a life-work balance. It should be fun to go to work, and this is best achieved by creating a welcoming community with a clear direction and focus on value creation. Sustainable solutions are best developed through trust-based, strategic partnerships, and I look forward to building strong relationships with the centre's many stakeholders," says Anita Friis Sommer.

Anita Friis Sommer lives in Billund with her husband, Karsten, and their two children, Emma and Kristian.

Contact

Anita Friis Sommer
+45 28 44 40 16
anita@anitasommer.com

Dean Eskild Holm Nielsen
+45 21 22 95 11
dean.tech@au.dk

Dekan Birgit Schiøtt
+45 29 82 68 82
dean.nat@au.dk