Chairman of the board (bestyrelsesformand)
The chairman of the board (bestyrelsesformand) is the board member who leads the board's work: convenes and chairs meetings, ensures that decisions are followed up and is the main link between the board and the chief executive.
The figures behind the term
Source: companydata.dk, CVR and annual reports, updated 16 October 2026
The chairman is elected by the board itself unless the articles of association place the election with the general meeting. The chairman in principle has the same vote as the other members, but the articles often give the chairman's vote the casting weight in the event of a tie.
The chairman's particular duties
- Convenes board meetings and sets the agenda
- Ensures the board receives the material it needs in time
- Chairs the general meeting if no separate chairman of the meeting is elected
- Acts as the executive board's regular sounding board between meetings
- Ensures the board evaluates its own work
Chairman and chief executive
In a public limited company the chief executive cannot also be chairman; the roles must be separate so the board can exercise real oversight. In private limited companies with a board there is no corresponding rule, but separation is recommended.
Frequently asked questions
What does the chair of the board do?
Leads the board's work, calls its meetings and makes sure the board deals with the matters it has to decide.
How many companies have a registered chair?
The figure on this page counts the active companies where a person is currently registered in the chair role in CVR.
Can the chair also be a director of the company?
Not in a public limited company. The chair may not at the same time be a director, because the board supervises the executive board.
Related terms
Board of directors (bestyrelse)
The bestyrelse (board of directors) is a company's supreme governing body: it sets strategy, appoints the executive board, and supervises day-to-day management. An A/S must have a board (or supervisory board); in an ApS it is optional.
Board member (bestyrelsesmedlem)
A board member (bestyrelsesmedlem) is a person elected or appointed to sit on a company's board of directors. Board members take part in overall management, supervise the executive board and are personally liable for losses they cause through irresponsible management.
Chief executive officer (administrerende direktør)
The administrerende direktør (CEO, managing director) is the person ultimately responsible for a company's day-to-day management. In CVR the role is registered as part of the executive board, and in companies with a board of directors it is the board that appoints and dismisses the CEO.
Public limited company (A/S)
An aktieselskab (A/S) is a Danish limited company with share capital of at least DKK 400,000 and a requirement for both an executive board and a board of directors (or supervisory board). Only an A/S can be listed on a stock exchange.