Niels Christiansen will succeed Bali Padda, who will take on a special advisory role with LEGO Brand Group.

EUROPE–The LEGO Group has appointed Niels Christiansen to serve as the company’s new chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1, 2017.

Christiansen will replace Bali Padda, a long-standing LEGO Group executive, who will take on a special advisory role with LEGO Brand Group.

Most recently, Christiansen was chief executive officer of Danfoss, a global industrial technology company. During his nine-year tenure, the company doubled in size, increased its global footprint and transformed its portfolio in response to shifting customer demands.

He also served as chief executive officer at GN Netcom.

“Niels is a great leader who delivered outstanding results while CEO of Danfoss. There, he transformed a traditional industry company into a technology leader,” says Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, executive chairman, LEGO Brand Group. “His experience in digitalization and globalization, implementing a transformative strategy and creating an agile, high-perming, international team with benefit The LEGO Group. The board is confident that under Niels, The LEGO Group will continue to flourish and bring play experiences to more children around the world.”