Mike's deep understanding of emerging markets was forged through hands-on experience. The defining chapter began in 2007 when he became general manager of Novo Nordisk Near East, based in Istanbul, taking full business responsibility across seven challenging markets, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria. Under his leadership, the region achieved remarkable growth, reaching 420 million DKK turnover and 230 million DKK operating profit whilst managing 150 employees across complex geopolitical landscapes.

His success led to his promotion to vice president in 2010, expanding to include Turkey and Israel, with 550 employees across nine countries and 2 billion DKK turnover. In 2012, he moved to Kuala Lumpur as VP of South East Asia, orchestrating operations across nine countries with 750 employees.

Mike's ascent accelerated in 2013 with his promotion to senior vice president of Emerging Markets, overseeing 150 countries with 4,500 employees and a turnover of 12 billion DKK. By 2015, he was appointed EVP of International Operations, and one year later, the unit was further expanded to include all countries except the US and Canada. Canada was later added to International Operations in 2025.

Today, Mike leads almost 20,000 employees across five regions. Under his leadership, International Operations has more than doubled sales to approximately 112 billion DKK in 2024. As executive vice president and member of Novo Nordisk's Executive Management, he also plays a crucial role in shaping global strategy.

Beyond Novo Nordisk, Mike serves on Orion Corporation's board and the International Community School in Zurich's Board of Trustees. Previously, he was a board member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and chaired their Patient Access Committee from 2017 to 2021.

Mike holds a BA in International Business from Webster University, Vienna (1994), and completed executive education at Harvard Business School in Leadership & Strategy for Pharmaceutical & Biotech (2012). Fluent in English, Farsi, and German, Mike’s global perspective is reflected in his personal life. He currently lives in Switzerland with his wife and younger son (both Dutch citizens). His elder son (a Dutch and Swiss dual citizen) has recently moved to Scotland to pursue his higher education.