Kristian Thorn to become new head of staff at the Rector's Of
The appointments committee has made a unanimous decision to hire the Deputy Director for AU Student Administration and Services Kristian Thorn as the new head of staff at the Rector's Office. Kristian Thorn has in-depth knowledge of the university's activities via his executive positions at Aarhus University in the fields of education, research, PhD administration and within the international area.
For many people, it is a familiar face that will take over the position of head of staff at the Rector's Office of Aarhus University on 1 November. Kristian Thorn has worked at the university since 2009, when he took up the position as the head of the International Office. He the worked as the deputy director for research support at the Department for PhD Administration and Internationalisation for almost four years, and has since 2014 been the deputy director for AU Student Administration and Services. Kristian Thorn previously worked for the political secretariat of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, and he has worked with further education and research at the World Bank and been employed by Ministry of Finance.
Rector Brian Bech Nielsen is pleased that Kristian Thorn has taken on a new role at Aarhus University as head of staff at the Rector's Office:
"During his years at the university, Kristian has again and again displayed an impressive ability to work in a skilled and deep manner with new disciplines, and has taken on major, challenging tasks. Most recently, for example, he helped steer AU through the enormous educational challenges we faced due to Covid. This is just one of many examples. I am very pleased that he has taken on the new task of being head of staff at the Rector's Office and I look forward to working with him.”
Brian Bech Nielsen emphasises that it was a unanimous appointment committee that selected Kristian Thorn out of a field of extremely well-qualified applicants.
“I’m sure that Kristian Thorn will not only be an extremely competent head of staff but also a very experienced and skilled strategic management advisor,” says Brian Bech Nielsen.
Over the years, Kristian Thorn has had dealings with many colleagues at the university, and thanks to his various positions, he also has a broad network outside the university:
"I look forward to the management tasks in the Rector's Office and the processes surrounding the senior management team and the board. Collaboration is high on my agenda, both internally at AU and in relation to external stakeholders. The universities will need a strong voice in the next coming years, in relation to their framework conditions and the huge challenges facing society. Together with the employees in the Rector's Office, I look forward to supporting Aarhus University's overall management on this important matter."
University Director Arnold Boon has temporarily appointed Frederik Langkjær as the deputy director of AU Student Administration and Services.
Kristian Thorn will take up his new position on Monday 1 November. He replaces Steen Harrit Jakobsen, who took up the position as deputy director of Economics and Management at Aalborg University on 1 October.
Contact
Kristian Thorn, deputy director, as of 1 November, head of staff at AU
(+45) 30 69 86 92
kthorn@au.dk