The C. Ludens Ringnes Sculpture Collection was established in 2018 through the generosity of Christian Ringnes during the Harvard Business School Campaign. This gift supports two primary activities: the acquisition of contemporary sculpture and the exhibition program. The outdoor sculptures will serve as a complement to the architecture of the School, representing the merging of enduring tradition with innovative thought and contemporary business practice.
It was high time for me to give something back to HBS. The School has most certainly been a very important contributor to my later success in life, a success which has surprised many, myself included. I am very happy to contribute through the arts to make HBS an even better experience for those who are lucky enough to get to spend time there.
Christian Ringnes (MBA 1981)
Christian Ringnes (MBA 1981)
Christian began his career as the assistant to the Nordic area manager of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. from 1978 to 1979. After graduating from HBS in 1981, he became a consultant with McKinsey & Company in Scandinavia from 1981 to 1984. He has been active in the real estate industry since 1984. Christian is the largest shareholder and CEO of real estate firms Eiendomsspar and Victoria Eiendom.
In addition to his Eiendomsspar responsibilities, Christian owns various properties, businesses, and museums in Oslo. In 2003, Eiendomsspar bought Oslo’s Ekeberg Restaurant, not far from where Edvard Munch found the inspiration for his famous 1893 painting, The Scream (The National Museum in Oslo). Ringnes later financed and developed Ekebergparken Sculpture Park. In 2013, he was voted “Citizen of the Year” by readers of Norway’s largest media outlet, Aftenposten, and received Oslo City’s highest award, the St. Hallvard Medal, for his efforts to develop and promote Oslo as a city and a destination. His pioneering achievements in real estate and his expansive knowledge and passion for the arts continue to have profound business and artistic significance, sparking conversation on the vital intersection between the two.
Christian holds a MBA from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
