After more than 17 years as executive director of State of Green, Denmark’s national green branding organisation, Finn Mortensen has decided to step down by the end of 2025. He will be succeeded by Charlotte Gjedde, who formally takes over on December 1, 2025.

For the past three years, Charlotte Gjedde has been working in Brussels for Danish Industry as responsible for energy and climate as well as head of the organisation’s member services in the EU. From 2016 to 2022, she worked at State of Green with international branding of the green strongholds of Denmark and was responsible for the activities at the Denmark pavilion in connection with the annual international UN Climate Conferences (COPs).

Chairperson of State of Green, Jeff Gravenhorst:

“Since State of Green was founded in 2008, Finn Mortensen has been an outstanding driving force in manifesting Denmark’s green political ambitions and world-class technologies globally, and I thank Finn deeply for his extraordinary contribution. Today, State of Green is positioned as a leader in the branding of Denmark internationally, and with Charlotte Gjedde taking over, the baton has been passed on in the very best way. She knows the organisation and its values from the inside, and her strong and embracing personality, excellent networking skills and energy will only add to State of Green’s visibility, both internationally and nationally. State of Green has thus secured a continued strong management team with Charlotte and Deputy Director Tanya Gottlieb Jacobsen, who will take on additional management responsibilities as part of the leadership transition.”

Incoming Executive Director Charlotte Gjedde:

“I am deeply honoured and proud to be given the responsibility as the next Executive Director of State of Green, and I thank Jeff and the board for their backing. It is a big task to succeed Finn, who has been my mentor and a decisive factor in bringing the organisation to where it is today. I look forward to returning ‘home’ to State of Green and getting started together with the talented team and the partners behind.”

Finn Mortensen, who turned 70 earlier this year, will continue at State of Green for a short handover period before formally stepping down at the end of the year:

“For several years, Charlotte was one of my closest employees, and with her, I know that State of Green will get a highly qualified and dynamic leader who knows the business and has broad international experience. I am extremely happy that she is back in the organisation and cannot imagine a better successor.”

About State of Green

Under Finn Mortensen’s leadership, State of Green has become the central gateway for international players to Denmark as a green pioneer country. The organisation was set up as a not-for-profit public-private partnership to highlight Denmark’s green transition and Danish positions of strength leading up to and during the UN climate conference, COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. Behind the organisation are four ministries (Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, and Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality) and the three major business organisations (Danish Industry, Green Power Denmark, and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council).

State of Green annually hosts some 2,500 international commercial and political decision makers from 50 countries, who come to Denmark to get inspiration for their own green transition.

More information about the organisation can be found at www.stateofgreen.com.