Kirsten A. Møller

Kirsten Møller has become both the youngest and first female CEO of one of Scandinavia’s most iconic furniture houses, JL Møller Mobelfabrik. Møller is the granddaughter of Niels Otto Møller who founded the business back in 1944 and is the third generation to take over the Denmark-based business. The young businesswoman has both a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Scandinavian Studies and a Masters in Environmental Economics, plus a wealth of experience under her belt and is already making her own mark in one of the world’s internationally-successful design companies.

Møller’s family-run business legacy is to never compromise on quality – where the commitment to careful material selection by specialist cabinetmakers is upheld to this day. The Møller factory proudly remains a workshop free of assembly lines…a rarity in this modern era. Kirsten’s deep-rooted passion for her family’s legacy has resulted in a commitment to preserving and cherishing timeless and iconic designs like the #77 dining chair, created by her grandfather nearly 80 years ago.

In 2017, Great Dane had the honour of hosting the family behind J.L . Møllers Møbelfabrik in Australia, celebrating a new phase for the brand under the leadership of the family’s third generation. At a special event at the Great Dane Showroom, Kirsten Møller, granddaughter of founder Niels Otto Møller, along with her father, Jørgen Henrik Møller shared how she planned to continue her family’s legacy, bringing a youthful approach to the business, while honouring the traditional craftsmanship and timeless designs for which the Møller name is celebrated.

Great Dane founder, Anton Assaad first fell in love with Neil Otto Møller’s furniture through Great Dane’s first incarnation as Australia’s home of premium vintage design, observing first-hand Møller’s inimitable craftsmanship worthy of standing the test of time. Thrilled to discover the Møller workshop remained in production, Anton began faxing the workshop in the hope of a to visit the workshop in Aarhus, Denmark. After many failed attempts, he was eventually granted permission marking the beginning of their strong relationship.

Today, each visit to the workshop includes a warm hug from Kirsten, followed by a tour through the factory and catching up over strong black coffee and pastries with the many generational craftspeople whom we’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years.

Vogue Living spoke to Kisten Møller about working in a family business and how she’s tackling her biggest career challenge to date. Read here.