OECD Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen will depart the Organisation on 1 February 2025 after six years of service. 

As a key member of the Organisation’s senior leadership, Ulrik Knudsen’s portfolio includes the digital and technological transformation, science and innovation, global relations, trade and agriculture. Previously, he has held oversight responsibility for OECD work on employment, labour, social affairs, health, entrepreneurship, education, skills, and well-being, inequalities of opportunity and sustainability.

As OECD Gender & Diversity Champion since 2021, Knudsen oversaw the Organisation’s first gender equality strategy: The OECD’s Contribution to Promoting Gender Equality. He also steered The OECD’s Contribution to Promoting Open Markets and a Rules-based International Trading System in Good Working Order, a key outcome of the 2023 Ministerial Council Meeting, and has led Organisation-wide work on the digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence including supporting Members to reach consensus on a first-ever OECD digital strategy.

He also supported the launch of key accession discussions as part of the OECD’s strategic enlargement, and in the past year has led the strategic co-ordination of OECD activities with all UN institutions. 

Knudsen will be pursuing a new opportunity in the private sector with Netcompany, one of Europe’s largest IT enterprises. He will join Netcompany’s global Group Leadership and take on the position of Chief Corporate Affairs Officer with responsibility for the company’s further European expansion.

“Ulrik has been an exceptional leader and contributor for the OECD, a highly valued member of our team and a good friend to many,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. “His important work has ranged from the advancement of key global discussions to core improvements to corporate management, and he leaves the Organisation a better place through his outstanding service. I thank him and wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavours.”

Until the end of 2018, Knudsen was Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark. Prior to this, he served as Sherpa and Chief Diplomatic Advisor to two Danish Prime Ministers on Security Policy and on EU and Foreign Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office. He also served as Ambassador to the OECD and UNESCO in Paris (2008-09), as Group Director for International Policy at Vodafone in London (2013), and held diplomatic postings in London (2003-04), Washington (1998-2000) and Moscow (1997). 

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to preserve individual liberty and improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.