Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, Lego's president and chief executive, announced on January 21st that 1, 000 jobs would be cut.

ECONOMIST: Lego

Kjeld was once one of those fast-track corporate types at BP, the third largest oil company and fourth biggest company in the world.

FORBES: Want to Climb the Corporate Ladder or Jump Off: Learn to Surf

Out of work for a year following a serious illness in 1993, Kjeld appointed a five-person management team to help him run the company when he returned.

FORBES: How LEGO Grew to Global Dominance