About

I took office as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 12th Secretary General on 1 August 2009.

I was born in Ginnerup, Jutland, on 26 January 1953. After passing the baccalaureate at Viborg Cathedral School in 1972, I studied economics at the University of Aarhus, graduating (MSc Econ) in 1978. The same year I became member of the Danish Parliament representing the Liberal Party.

I’ve held numerous positions in government and opposition throughout my political career. From 1987 to 1992 I was Minister for Taxation and from 1990 to 1992 also Minister for Economic Affairs in the Conservative-Liberal coalition Government. As Minister for Economic Affairs and member of the EU’s ECOFIN-council 1990-92, I was the Danish negotiator of and signatory to the Maastricht Treaty which eventually led to the introduction of the single currency, the euro.

From 1992 to 1998 I was spokesman for the Liberal Party and from 1993 to 1998 in addition vice-chairman of the Parliament’s Economic and Political Affairs Committee. In 1998 I became chairman of the Liberal Party’s national organisation and vice-chairman of the Parliament’s Foreign Policy Board.

After the parliamentary elections in 2001, I formed my first government, a coalition consisting of the Liberal Party and the Conservative People’s Party. My government was re-elected in 2005 and 2007 respectively, and I held the position as Prime Minister until I was elected as future NATO Secretary General at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit in April 2009.

During the Danish Presidency of the European Union from July to December 2002, I played a key role in the process leading to conclusion of the accession negotiations with 10 candidates for EU-membership at the meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen in December 2002.

I am married to Anne-Mette Rasmussen. We have three children. In my spare time, I’m a passionate runner, and I also enjoy cycling and kayaking.

1974 – 1976	National Chairman of the Liberal Youth of Denmark
1978 – 2009	Member of the Folketing – the Parliament
1981 – 1986	Vice-chairman of the Folketing’s Housing Committee
1984 – 1987	Member of the Management Committee of the Parliamentary Liberal Party
1985 – 1998	Vice-chairman of the Liberal Party’s national organisation
1987 – 1992	Minister for Taxation
1990 – 1992	Minister for Economic Affairs
1992 – 2001	Member of the Management Committee of the Parliamentary Liberal Party
1992 – 1998	Spokesman for the Liberal Party
1993 – 1998	Vice-chairman of the Folketing’s Economic and Political Affairs Committee
1998 – 2009	Chairman of the Liberal Party’s national organisation
1998 – 2001	Chairman of the Parliamentary Liberal Party
1998 – 2001	Vice-chairman of the Folketing’s Foreign Policy Board
2001 – 2009	Prime Minister of Denmark
2009 -	Secretary General of NATO