FOUNDING FATHERS

founding FATHERS Ole Krik Christiansen was the founder of The LEGO Group. He was born in the village of Omvraa Mark, Blåhøj-Filskov parish, Vejle, Denmark. He was one of 10 children of Jens Niels Christiansen and Kirstine (Andersen) Christiansen. At the age of seven, Ole Kirk Kristiansen worked for a local smallholder, and later gets a job on a farm in nearby Filskov. In 1905 at the age of 14, he began to learn carpentry under the guidance of his elder brother, Kristian Bonde Kristiansen. In 1911, he left Denmark and worked in Germany as a carpenter for five years. In 1916, he returned back to Denmark and, using his savings, bought the Billund Maskinsnedkeri og Tømreforretning (The Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard). By then he had married Hansine Kirstine Sörensen in Lindeballe, whom he met in Norway. Later, when his wife died in 1932 leaving him with their 4 children - Johannes Christiansen (born 1917), Karl Georg Kirk Christiansen (born 1919), Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (born 1920) and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen (born 1926), Ole married 1934, married Kirsten Sofie Jörgensen in Haslev. Ole Kirk Christiansen died on March 11, 1958.

Ole Krik Christiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958)

Godtfred Krik Christiansen (July 8, 1920 – July 13, 1995)

Godtfred Krik Christiansen was the third son of Ole Kirk Christiansen. He had been working with his father ever since he was 14, after completing his schooling. When 30, he was the Vice President of the company in 1950. He became the managing director of LEGO group in 1957(to 1979) and the head of the company after the death of his father the following year. By 1960, he brought his 3 brothers to become the sole proprietor of the company. He was married to Edith Nørregaard Knudsen and his family included his 3 children, Gunhild Kirk Christiansen, Kjeld Kirk Christiansen and Hanne Christiansen whose pictures were displayed in LEGO’s Box Art designs in 1950. Later, in October 1969 while driving home from a movie in the neighboring town of Give, Hanne died and Kjeld got seriously injured in an accident where there car skid and hit a tree. The company was then succeeded by Godtfred’s son, Kjeld Kirk Christiansen, who became president and CEO of the LEGO Group in 1979.