International DIY News

Carl Otto Løvenskiold Named Global DIY-Lifetime Award Winner 2026

The Global DIY-Summit are delighted to announce that former EDRA/GHIN Board Member and CEO & Owner of Løvenskiold Vækerø, Carl Otto Løvenskiold, will receive the Global DIY-Lifetime Award 2026 at the upcoming Global DIY-Summit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. With the Global DIY-Summit taking place from the 16-18th of June, the Award Ceremony will take place during the Gala Evening on the 17th of June 2026.

Born in 1953, Carl Otto Løvenskiold is the 13th generation owner of Løvenskiold-Vækerø, with the company being established in 1649 – the same year that Oliver Cromwell declared England a Commonwealth and Free State!

Carl Otto Løvenskiold has a long history in business, having studied Business Administration at the University of California, Berkeley and Seattle University and completing an MBA at INSEAD, France. He first stepped into a role at Løvenskiold-Vækerø AS in 1982 as Marketing Manager, before moving into a position as Director, Senior Vice President and finally Owner & CEO, a position he has held since 1994. Carl Otto Løvenskiold was also the longest serving Board Member of EDRA/GHIN, having served on the Board from 2005-2025.

Løvenskiold-Vækerø is a family business and leading player in trade, real estate, forestry and agriculture. Long-term, predictability and social responsibility continue to be the core pillars that guide Løvenskiold-Vækerø today.

Løvenskiold-Vækerøs daughter company, Maxbo, is a leading building materials and DIY retail chain with 65 stores across Norway. The company serves both the consumer and professional markets and offering a comprehensive product range. Maxbo is the result of Løvenskiold-Vækerøs activities within iron manufacturing, timber industry and building materials for several hundred years.

Erwin Van Osta, Owner & CEO of Hubo, Belgium and President of EDRA/GHIN shared: “Carl Otto Løvenskiold has been a true ambassador for the global home improvement industry. His dedication to EDRA/GHIN and his visionary leadership have helped shape and strengthen our sector for many years. This Lifetime Award is a well-deserved recognition of his lasting contribution to the global DIY community.”

Caroline Van der Voort, Co-Owner of Calodar nv and President of HIMA emphasised: “Carl Otto Løvenskiold truly embodies the long-term vision and strong values that define successful family-owned businesses. His dedication to responsible entrepreneurship, continuity across generations and sustainable growth is an inspiration for our entire sector. At the same time, his open mindset and commitment to collaboration highlight how essential cooperation is in strengthening our industry and creating shared progress for the future.”

On the news of the award EDRA/GHIN General Secretary, John W. Herbert, highlighted “Carl Otto Løvenskiold has been one of the key advocates of EDRA/GHIN since our very early days in 2005. At that stage our network was only made up of 10 members, mostly associations. Carl Otto has played an essential role in growing EDRA/GHIN into the global association we are today.”

The decision to accolade the annual Global DIY-Lifetime Award to Carl Otto Løvenskiold was made and confirmed by the boards of the European DIY Retail Association (EDRA), the Home Improvement Manufacturers Association (HIMA) and the Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN).

The Laudatory Speech will be given by John W. Herbert.

Registrations are open at diysummit.org. We invite retailers, manufacturers, service providers, tech firms and thought leaders from around the world to secure their place at the premier platform for shaping the future of DIY and home improvement.

For more information or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@diysummit.org.