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Article: Lego's Knudstorp is a brick Jonathan Sibun talks to the man who has taken the iconic toy from near-bankruptcy to a happy birthday
- Article from:
- The Sunday Telegraph London
- Article date:
- January 27, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 The Sunday Telegraph London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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At 1.58pm tomorrow, Jorgen Vig Knudstorp will allow himself a
smile of satisfaction. The time will mark the 50th anniversary of
Lego's patent of its famous brick and Knudstorp knows more than most
that it is a day many feared would never come.
When he was promoted to become chief executive of Lego in October
2004, Knudstrop, 38, was widely considered to be stepping from the
frying pan into the fire.
Industry commentators said Lego was dead and the company had
recently announced its biggest-ever loss. Its days as an independent
company owned by the local Kristiansen family appeared numbered,
with private equity firms and trade buyers circling for a takeover.
Three-and-a-half years later, Lego ...