Who is lego owned by

All rights reserved. English French. Systematic creativity LEGO bricks are all part of the LEGO system, which essentially means that they can easily be combined in innumerable ways — and just as easily be dismantled. Learn More about us. Latest Jobs. Photography department is established. The first telex machine and photocopier in Billund. LEGO Schweiz is established.

The company buys its first own truck. The first real export of LEGO begins. First country is Sweden. The name LEGO is printed inside all bricks. It costs DKK , The company now has its first canteen. First sales to Latin America: Peru and Curacao. The small wheel for small cars is invented — launches in LEGO is now sold in 42 countries. More than employees in Billund. Selected product News Tiles Doll Furniture Set Model sets, complete with building instructions, are launched as a natural addition to existing Basic and Supplementary sets.

First sales to the Middle East Lebanon. LEGO Austria is established. Procurement department established. Billund Airport opens. LEGO Australia is established. The first personnel manager hired. First ever strike at LEGO.

LEGO Italy is established. Approximately employees in Billund. LEGO Singapore is established. The first telefax is purchased DKK 68, Minitalia, that launched in Italy in , is removed from the product line. Procurement in the US is established. LEGO Portugal is established. English becomes the official corporate language. First sales to Eastern Europe Hungary. First sales to the Czech Republic. Selected Product News Doll house elements incl.

First prototype of an adding machine arrives. Kornmarken factory opens. LEGO Canada is established. Almost 6, employees. LEGO Products are now selling in markets. Procurement department established in Korea. LEGO Korea is established. The Scala Line, which is introduced in , is cancelled. Technic Logo is developed by Papermint. LEGO Group undergoes restructuring. The changes result in the loss of jobs. The Next Generation Forum is established.

But 50 years later, Greenpeace targeted Shell with an ad campaign that used Lego bricks to build an Arctic landscape that was then destroyed with oil. In , Lego ended its partnership with Shell. It created new sustainability goals for the company and partnered with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund.

The goal is to have a solution in place by A remarkable commitment to family transparency. While the operational managers of Lego continue to innovate, helping the company to adapt and thrive in this new environment, the Kirk Kristiansen family continues on its own path — ensuring the long-term success and enduring family control of the company.

As with generations before him, Thomas has taken on increasing responsibilities in the family business over many years. Thomas became deputy chairman of the Lego Group, as well as chair of the Lego Foundation, in Kirkbi itself has become remarkable, in recent years, for its commitment to openness and transparency. Its website www. It seems to strike to the core of what the Kirk Kristiansen family stands for.

As the most active owner for the fourth generation, Thomas also represents the family in the appointment of board members and management for Lego, Kirkbi, and the Lego Foundation. A member of the Kristiansen family will always chair Kirkbi, but an outsider chairs the Lego board. The Kirk Kristiansens have consistently groomed successors within their own ranks, since Ole Kirk Christiansen brought in his son in the s. They have enjoyed great success when bringing in non-family members to operate the company, while keeping the holding company family-run.

Most of all, the Kirk Kristiansens continue to work to engage younger generations and focus on long-term growth. And Lego continues to innovate, to thrive in a world that looks very different from when it began almost years ago. The answer is million. This is the story of the Kirk Kristiansen family of Denmark. The little brick has come a long way.

So what has made the Kirk Kristiansens — and Lego — so successful for almost 90 years? How a tiny toy got so big What has grown over time to be a massive company had, like many family businesses, humble beginnings. The advent of outside management A further indicator of growth came in The sustainability challenge Over the years there have been no shortage of challenges for Lego. A remarkable commitment to family transparency While the operational managers of Lego continue to innovate, helping the company to adapt and thrive in this new environment, the Kirk Kristiansen family continues on its own path — ensuring the long-term success and enduring family control of the company.

A family building for the long term As the most active owner for the fourth generation, Thomas also represents the family in the appointment of board members and management for Lego, Kirkbi, and the Lego Foundation.

Clearly the Kirk Kristiansens are building for its future success, brick by brick. Is it important to you to have the next generation involved in the family business? If so, how are you preparing them? Sarah Reid is a freelance writer based in Toronto.