Knud Heinesen

Heinesen was born in Kerteminde on 26 September 1932.[1][2] He was adopted by his aunt at age seven when his mother died.[3] He was raised in Vangede.[4] He attended Aurehøj Gymnasium in Gentofte and graduated in 1951.[2] He studied economics at the University of Copenhagen and graduated in 1959.[2] He joined a social democratic student organization, Frit Forum, during his studies at the university.[4]

Following his graduation Heinesen worked as a high school teacher in Roskilde.[4] In the period 1960–1962 he worked as a secretary in the Labor Movement's business council (AE), but he returned to Roskilde High School to work as the headmaster in 1962 and continued to work there until 1967.[4] In 1963 Heinesen became a member of the Radio Council and in 1967 he was appointed chairman of the council which he held until 1971.[1] The same year he resigned from his job as headmaster and began to involve in politics being a member of the Social Democrats.[2] In 1971 Heinesen was elected to the Danish Parliament and was appointed minister of education the same year[4] replacing Helge Larsen in the post.[5] He was in office until September 1973 when Ritt Bjerregaard replaced him in the post in a cabinet reshuffle.[4][5] Heinesen was appointed minister of budget in the same reshuffle, replacing Per Hækkerup in the post.[4] Heinesen's term was very brief and ended in December that year.[4] In 1975 he was named minister of finance in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Anker Jørgensen.[1] Heinesen resigned from office in 1979, but he served as the vice president of the Social Democrats.[4]

In 1981 Heinesen served as the minister of public works when Jens Risgaard Knudsen had to resign from the office due to his involvement in a scandal.[4] Heinesen's last cabinet post was the minister of finance which he held in the period 1981–1982 again in the cabinet led by Anker Jørgensen.[4] Heinesen retired from politics in 1985 and became director of Copenhagen Airport.[2] From 1989 to 1995 he served as the director of several companies and was also a member of the boards of different companies.[2]