Bitten Clausen, wife of Danfoss founder, dies

DENMARK: Danfoss is mourning the death last night of Bitten Clausen, wife of company founder Mads Clausen. She was 103.

Born in Haderslev, Denmark, on October 20, 1912, Bitten married Mads Clausen in 1939 and moved to Als, where she helped to establish the enterprise today known as Danfoss.

Following the death of Mads Clausen in 1966, Bitten Clausen became chairman of the Danfoss A/S board, a position she held until 1971. In subsequent years, she, together with the company management, headed the continuing expansion and drive for profitability. Bitten Clausen remained an honorary member of the Danfoss A/S Board.

A great supporter of those in need, she founded numerous charitable initiatives and funds. Long before it became an established concept in companies worldwide, Bitten Clausen exercised social responsibility at Danfoss and showed responsibility and care towards the company’s employees and people in the local communities where Danfoss operates.

Bitten became a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog in 1975 and, in 1990, she became a Knight of First Degree. She was also a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav Order, and was an honorary citizen of Nordborg, Denmark, and Tianjin, the place where Danfoss’ major activities in China began.

Announcing her passing, her eldest son and current chairman of Danfoss A/S, Jørgen M. Clausen, said: “Throughout her life, our mother exuded care and human warmth in all of her doings, personally and in terms of Danfoss. She sought harmony and she had the courage to make a difference wherever she was in the world. Our mother never declined to perform a task, and never considered her work a duty.

“We are thankful that mother lived a long and eventful life, and managed to stay active right to the end. I would like to thank all of current and former Danfoss employees for their loyalty and support for our mother throughout the years.”