Danish business executive Henrik Poulsen, who led Ørsted’s transformation into a global renewable energy company and now chairs Carlsberg, has been appointed to the board of Singapore Airlines. The appointment brings one of Denmark’s most experienced corporate leaders into the governance of Singapore’s national airline.
Singapore Airlines announced on Monday, 19 October 2026, that Henrik Poulsen had been appointed an independent, non-executive director with immediate effect. Poulsen, 59, will also join the airline’s Board Safety and Risk Committee from 15 February 2027.
The appointment marks a new international board position for Poulsen, whose career has largely been associated with major Danish companies.
He served as CEO of Ørsted from 2012 to 2020, overseeing its transformation from a conventional energy utility into an international renewable energy business focused on offshore wind power. Before joining Ørsted, he was CEO of Danish telecommunications company TDC from 2008 to 2012.
Poulsen also spent several years with LEGO, including a period as Regional Managing Director for Europe and Asia in 2004–2005, giving him previous management experience covering Asian markets.
Earlier in his career, he worked for McKinsey & Company in Copenhagen and New York and for investment firm KKR.
Chairman of Carlsberg
Poulsen is currently Chairman of Carlsberg’s Supervisory Board and also chairs Danish packaging company Faerch and payment technology company Flatpay. He also serves on the board of German media group Bertelsmann and is a senior adviser to A.P. Møller Holding. He was previously Vice Chairman of Novo Nordisk.
His appointment to Singapore Airlines comes alongside that of Singaporean business executive Lee Theng Kiat, a former CEO of Temasek International and current Chairman of Singtel.Lee will also serve as a non-independent, non-executive director and join the airline’s Board Executive Committee and Safety and Risk Committee.
The appointment adds to the connections between Danish business leadership and Singapore, one of Southeast Asia’s leading aviation and commercial centres.
Sources: Singapore Airlines – Board appointments, 19 October 2026, Carlsberg Group – Henrik Poulsen biography.
