It is with deep regret that we learned this morning that Hans Skov Christensen has quietly passed away at his home after a longer period of illness.
We will miss Hans Skov Christensen. He was a very dedicated and highly respected Chairman, genuinely interested in bringing countries, industries and people closer together and to manifest the Baltic Sea Region more strongly in the EU and in world. “We have a lot to be proud of” he often mentioned, referring to the economic and political accomplishment in the Baltic Sea Region after the end of the Cold War.
Hans Skov Christensen worked hard to improve the business cooperation in the region and he was well known and highly respected in the business society as well as in the political sphere. From his position as CEO of the Confederation of Industries he had helped Baltic sister organisations to establish and strengthen their influence at home and in Brussels, a work he continued from BDF. Although a stout industrialist, he found – as a conservative oriented person with a strong sense of responsibility – the heavy pollution of the Baltic Sea unacceptable and an unethical bill to send to future generation.
As a very active Chairman of Baltic Development Forum since November 2011, Hans Skov Christensen took part in summits, conferences and meetings with high level politicians, business and academia in all parts of the region from Pskov in Russia to Helsinki, Stockholm, Gdansk, Berlin, Hamburg and Riga. Hans Skov Christensen was interested in people and could engage with everyone. He added a human touch to the professional profile of the organization.
We will remember Hans Skov Christensen as an insisting, generous, honest and reliable Chairman. A great personality has left us.
Helle Bechgaard on behalf of the BDF board
Hans Brask on behalf of the BDF Secretariat
