H. Sigurd Næss-Schmidt, 50 years old, has been promoted to partner with effect from 01 January 2011.

Chairman of the Board, Bjarne Nielsen, says: “It is a great pleasure to see that we are able to grow the company” and continues “This is the only way a true professional company can grow – namely by promoting experts like Sigurd who live up to our very high standards of client advice and who make a significant contribution to growing the company”.

Sigurd joined Copenhagen Economics in November 2006, having previously worked many years for the Danish Ministry of Finance, OECD and the European Commission. Sigurd is a member of an expert advisory group to the German Ministry of Finance, and holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Copenhagen University.

Sigurd focuses his practice on helping public and private clients with climate and energy questions as well as public finance and tax questions. Highlights of Sigurd’s accomplishments include a much quoted report on differentiated VAT rates in Europe. Bases on the findings of the report, the Commission was advised to allow lower VAT rates in sectors like domestic house work services, while keeping strict undifferentiated rates in other sectors. This work resulted in a proposal by the Commission along the lines suggested in the report.

The promotion of Sigurd to partner constitutes a significant step in the company’s ambition to build an international economics consultancy firmly rooted in the Nordic region. A company that attracts highly accomplished economists to work with the complex and demanding tasks presented to us by our clients.

Sigurd could have chosen one of many challenging positions, but has firmly opted for a future as a Partner in Copenhagen Economics. He says “This is the best place I have ever been. I enjoy working with a team of excellent economists and using economics to solve practical problems for our Danish, Nordic and international clients”.

For more information, contact Partner Claus Kastberg Nielsen