Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen took up his duties as Deputy Secretary-General in January 2019. His portfolio includes the strategic direction of OECD policy on digital and technological transformation, global relations, trade, and agriculture. In June 2021, he was appointed OECD Gender & Diversity Champion and leads the organization’s work on gender equality and diversity.
Mr. Knudsen led the transformation of the OECD Executive Committee in Special Session into the Global Strategy Group (GSG) to have a strategic forum to discuss issues of global relevance. He chaired the first GSG meetings from 2013-2017.