New CBS chair: “Universities cannot stand on the sidelines”
CBS will welcome a new chair of the board when Susanne Juhl takes up the role on 1 August 2026
When Susanne Juhl takes her seat at the head of the CBS Board of Directors later this summer, she will bring experience from some of the sectors where societal change is felt first and most directly: energy, infrastructure, regulation and the green transition.
For more than 20 years, she has worked at the intersection of politics, business and academia. Her previous roles include CEO of former gas distributor HMN Naturgas, Director in the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy and today Chair of the Board of HOFOR (Greater Copenhagen Utility), BIOFOS (wastewater utility company) and the Port of Aarhus.
She will now become the new chair of the Board at Copenhagen Business School.
The appointment comes shortly after the announcement that Susanne Juhl will also become the new chair of the board of the Danish Society for Education and Business, and she will therefore lead two key institutions within education and knowledge in Denmark.
“CBS is an incredibly important knowledge institution and a university that educates graduates for the Danish business community, and that is fundamental to our growth and prosperity, which is why I see it as a very important role to take on and be part of,” says Susanne Juhl.
She succeeds Lilian Mogensen, who has served as acting chair of the CBS Board since July 2025.
“This is a period of transition for universities, and perhaps especially for CBS. Major reforms, high expectations and significant societal changes are all unfolding at the same time. An important task will be to guide the university safely through these developments, while also recognising the opportunities that emerge during periods like this” Susanne Juhl
Chair of the Board at Copenhagen Business School.
A new era for universities
Susanne Juhl takes up the position at a time when universities are undergoing significant change. The master programme reform, new demands for collaboration with the business community and growing geopolitical tensions are reshaping the conditions under which the sector operates.
“This is a period of transition for universities, and perhaps especially for CBS. Major reforms, high expectations and significant societal changes are all unfolding at the same time. An important task will be to guide the university safely through these developments, while also recognising the opportunities that emerge during periods like this,” she says.
The university sector is not unfamiliar territory for Susanne Juhl, as she served on the board of DTU for eight years, an experience that gave her insight into the unique role of universities and the framework within which they operate.
What particularly interests her, however, is the role universities play in society.
“When we go through periods of transition like the one we are experiencing now, marked by geopolitical developments and other major changes, the pendulum can swing very quickly from one position to another. Five years ago, everything was about the green transition, and now some people believe it is no longer important at all,” she says, stressing that universities have a particularly important responsibility in times like these:
“Universities should not chase every new trend in society. They should help maintain a long-term perspective and bring balance to the public debate.”
“CBS is an incredibly important knowledge institution and a university that educates graduates for the Danish business community, and that is fundamental to our growth and prosperity, which is why I see it as a very important role to take on and be part of,” Susanne Juhl
Chair of the Board at Copenhagen Business School.
Close to the business community
At the same time, she points out that CBS holds a distinctive position among Danish universities because of its close connection to the business community that its graduates become part of.
“I find it fascinating to explore how economic development and value creation can be combined with the necessary green transition, particularly in light of the current geopolitical situation.”
Lilian Mogensen, who will continue on the board as deputy chair after serving a term as acting chair, is looking forward to handing over the baton.
“Susanne Juhl brings strong knowledge of the university sector and the business community that employs CBS’ graduates. She has extensive experience of strategic leadership and board work as well as a deep understanding of the role universities play in society. I am delighted that she will be leading the Board, and I look forward to working with her,” she says.
CBS President Peter Møllgaard is also looking forward to the collaboration.
“Susanne Juhl has worked in some of the sectors where the demands for innovation, transformation and responsible leadership are greatest, and she understands the pivotal role a university such as CBS plays in the development of companies and society at large. I very much look forward to working with her to build on CBS' position as an internationally oriented business university with strong connections to the wider world,” Peter Møllgaard says.
Susanne Juhl holds a degree in Political Science from Aarhus University, a Master in Public Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and an Executive MBA from Imperial College Business School in London.