Erik Rasmussen (journalist)

Erik Rasmussen (born 20 October 1941) is a Danish journalist, editor, author, debater, entrepreneur and founder of the companies Monday Morning and Sustainia. Today, Erik Rasmussen is partner in Sustainia and an active participant in the public debate as a regular contributor in Politiken (leading paid newspaper in Denmark) and Financial Weekly (Økonomisk Ugebrev), where he primarily writes about climate, sustainability and management. Erik Rasmussen has been in the media business for more than 60 years career, where he among others has been managing director of Egmont A/S, Monday Morning (company) and editor-in-chief of Børsen and Børsens Nyhedsmagasin.
Erik Rasmussen received Den Store Publicist Pris – a prestigious Danish publicist award – and was in 2006 named one of the world's 100 most influential journalists by World Economic Forum. 
== Career ==
=== Overview ===
* Sustainia, founder and partner (2009 -)
* Politiken, regular climate debater (2019 -)
* Financial Weekly (Økonomisk Ugebrev), regular columnist (2021 -)
* Monday Morning, regular columnist (2016 -)
* Monday Morning, founder, editor-in-chief and CEO (1989 - 2016)
* The Think Tank Forum for Industrial Development, managing director (1986 - 1989)
* Børsens Nyhedsmagasin, editor-in-chief (1984 - 1986)
* Forlaget Management, founder and CEO (1979 - 1984)
* Egmont A/S (formerly Gutenberghus Bladene), managing director (1975 - 1979)
* Børsen, editor-in-chief (1969 - 1975)
* Berlingske Aftenavis, business editor (1966 - 1968)
* Member of VL group 3 in Copenhagen for 40 years
=== Early career ===
Erik Rasmussen was born in Denmark, Funen. At the age of 17, Erik Rasmussen started as a journalism student at Bogense Avis. After completing his journalism training in Danish provincial newspapers, completing military service in the Royal Life Guards (Denmark)|Royal Life Guards and studying abroad in the USA on a Fulbright Scholarship, he landed a position as business editor at Berlingske Aftenavis (later Weekendavisen). Together with his colleague Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, he developed concepts for modern business journalism.
This led him to the post of editor-in-chief of Dagbladet Børsen in 1969 at the age of 27. Under his leadership, the foundation for Børsen as it is known today was laid – and after just six years with Erik Rasmussen as editor-in-chief chair, the circulation was sixfold.
In 1975, he continued his career as director of Egmont Denmark - the then Gutenberghus Bladene – a job that proved far from business journalism and newspaper operations. Erik Rasmussen left the managing director job after a few years to start his first media company Forlaget Management, where he launched the niche media Politics Weekly (Politisk Ugebrev) – a media that would later prove to be the forerunner of Monday Morning Weekly.
=== Late career ===
In 1989, Erik Rasmussen founded Monday Morning Weekly, and later Mandag Morgen Think Tank.
From the beginning Monday Morning Weekly targeted society's decision-makers, which based on analytical journalism, was founded and run by Erik Rasmussen with the clear aim to challenge, nuance and bring perspective that would equip the elite of power for change and innovation.
During his time as editor-in-chief and owner of Monday Morning, Erik Rasmussen has also acted as a catalyst and mastermind behind major initiatives such as the Innovation Council,the Welfare Innovation Day and the Copenhagen Climate Council. He has authored and written numerous ​publications, articles and contributions on politics, health, climate and other societal issues.
In the years leading up to 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP15 in Copenhagen, Erik Rasmussen focused his work on the climate agenda. Here he founded, the Copenhagen Climate Council, which brought global business leaders, politicians and researchers together to provide a comprehensive bid for the business community's contribution to the COP, to emphasise the need for COP15 and a common global climate agreement.
In 2009, the Copenhagen Climate Council was transformed into Sustainia - still with Erik Rasmussen at the helm. And in 2012, Sustainia seceded from Monday Morning and became an independent company, where Erik Rasmussen is still active.
In 2016, Erik Rasmussen sold Monday Morning to the online media Altinget.dk and Lisbeth Knudsen continued as editor-in-chief. Since then, Erik Rasmussen has focused on his activities in Sustainia and related projects.
== Private life ==
=== Family ===
Erik Rasmussen is married to Sidsel Bogh, who helped build Monday Morning. Together they have three grown sons. Erik Rasmussen also has a daughter from a previous marriage.
=== Health ===
The career path has not always been a linear journey for Erik Rasmussen. Twice he has been plagued by life-threatening illnesses. In 1999, he was diagnosed with neck cancer, where the prognosis was poor – the doctors predicted him only 20 percent survival. But after eight months and 34 radiation treatments, Erik Rasmussen was declared healthy, after which he engaged in a number of initiatives e.g as chairman of the patient support committee in the Danish Cancer Society and as lecturer and initiator of the largest study in Denmark on the world of cancer patients. Erik Rasmussen also wrote the book "The Day You Get Cancer", which was published in 2006.
The second time Erik Rasmussen was affected by a life-threatening illness, it was a severe blood poisoning with even fewer chances of survival. Again he continued to beat the poor odds.
== Books ==
* Magt uden ansvar: Superfos syndromet (1988) 
* Den politiske virksomhed (1996) 
* Den dag du får kræft (2003) 
* De grønne helte (2009) m. Per Meilstrup. 
* Repaint the future! Your guide to a sustainable tomorrow (2017) m. Anders Nolting Magelund. 
Category:1941 births
Category:Danish writers
Category:Danish businesspeople