The board of the Foundation NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research has decided to appoint John Rune Nielsen as new CEO from 1 September 2021.
Nielsen joins NILU after a long career at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Most recently, he has been in charge of strategy, research and business development in the position of Chief Research and Business Development Officer.
Serving in various leadership roles since the early 2000s, Nielsen has played a key role in bringing together Sweden’s strongly divided research institutes and fostering development of a unified interdisciplinary culture with increased competitiveness.
“I am extremely pleased to be joining NILU and look forward with pride to leading and developing such a renowned research institute”, says John Rune Nielsen. “NILU’s highly competent employees have an important role to play in ensuring that we understand the scope of and solve our climatic and environmental challenges!”
Dagfinn Myhre, Chairman of the Board, is pleased that Nielsen has accepted the position as new director at NILU.
“With Nielsen, NILU gets a director with long experience from strategic development and change management in research and development. His experience from the institute sector, as well as with customers from both the private and public sectors, will be exceedingly useful for the further development of NILU.”
Nielsen takes over the position after Kari Nygaard, who has been CEO of NILU since 1 October 2009. She will end her second and final term on 31 August 2021. Nygaard will move on to a position as special adviser at NILU.
The new CEO takes over the management of a smoothly running organisation with solid finances, a good working environment, a highly competent support system, and skilled scientists who are at the forefront in their fields. During the 12 years Kari Nygaard has led NILU, the institute has established a solid position both nationally and internationally, and is actively involved in placing Norway on the global research map.
“Nielsen takes over a research institute that is well equipped for the future”, Myhre concludes.