New managing director for Danish Institute for Sports Studies

Jakob Rathlev begins as managing director of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies, Play the Game, and the Danish Institute for Non-Formal Education as of January 1, 2019.

Rathlev is 39 years old and currently head of division at the Danish Evaluation Institute, EVA. He holds a PhD in public policy based on a thesis studying volunteering in European welfare states. Rathlev is also former head of department and manager in the private consultancy companies DAMVAD and Epinion. From 2009-2017, Rathlev was president of the Danish Scholastic Chess Federation where he currently serves as a board member.

“I am very pleased that the new director combines experience in managing both public, private, and voluntary organisations with a strong academic profile and a mindset for development. At the same time, I would like to thank the institute’s former director, Henrik H. Brandt, for his outstanding efforts since the institute was established in 2004,” says chairman of the board, Johs. Poulsen.

Rathlev hopes to bring his professional experiences in play in his new position:

“As an independent research institute within areas so characteristic for Denmark as a society, the Danish Institute for Sports Studies has a very important mission, and I look very much forward to lead the further development of the institute together with a dedicated team,” says Rathlev.