Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen Selected by World Economic Forum to be 2010 Young Global Leader

Selection committee headed by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan also honours tennis champion Roger Federer, Twitter CEO Evan Williams, and singer/activist Wyclef Jean among others

Lausanne, Switzerland—The World Economic Forum today selected Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO of the Group, as a 2010 Young Global Leader.

The honour is bestowed annually by the World Economic Forum, which established the program to recognize young leaders worldwide for their commitment to society, accomplishments, and potential to influence world development. The Young Global Leaders will participate in an annual summit, as well as global and regional task forces focused on initiatives to address specific challenges of public interest.

Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen was recognized for his work in bridging the global health care gap by innovating affordable, lifesaving products for the developing world.  His achievements include development of PermaNet® long-lasting insecticidal bed nets to prevent malaria, LifeStraw® water filters to protect from diarrheal diseases, and the CarePack® campaign which provides disease prevention tools in exchange for people in developing countries to participate in a voluntary HIV counselling and testing campaign.

Last year, Mr. Vestergaard Frandsen was also recognized for his outstanding professional achievements by the Economist magazine, which honoured him with their 2009 Social and Economic Innovation Award.

“I am thrilled, and humbled, to be selected for this important and respected award,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen. “It is deeply satisfying to see that my work and that of my family’s company, Vestergaard Frandsen, S.A., has made an impact and earned a place on the world stage.”

Joining Mikkel in the class of 2010 are young leaders including Roger Federer, Professional Tennis Player (from Switzerland), Evan Williams, CEO, Twitter (from the USA), Kimmee Weeks, Executive Director, Youth Action International (from Liberia), Mandla Mandela, Member of Parliament of the South African National Congress (from South Africa), Wyclef Jean, Singer and Founder, Yélé Haiti Foundation (from Haiti), and Nabil Alyousuf, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dubai School of Government (from the United Arab Emirates), among others.

Vestergaard Frandsen is a European company specializing in complex emergency response and disease-control products. The company operates under a unique Humanitarian Entrepreneurship business model.  This “profit for a purpose” approach has turned humanitarian responsibility into its core business. Vestergaard Frandsen was founded in 1957 and has evolved into a multinational leader focused on helping to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.

For more information please visit www.vestergaard-frandsen.com