LEGO Executive Michael Halbye Dies in Swiss Alps Skiing Accident

Michael Fulton16 Apr 2025

TL;DR

Michael Halbye, vice chairman of LEGO's parent company Kirkbi, passed away after a skiing accident in Verbier, Switzerland. The 64-year-old business leader and royal family confidant suffered fatal internal injuries after falling off-piste.

Level Up Your Ski Day — Download SnowStash on the App Store

LEGO Executive Dies in Swiss Skiing Accident

Michael Halbye, the 64-year-old vice chairman of Kirkbi, LEGO's parent company, died on April 12 following a skiing accident in Verbier, Switzerland. Halbye lost control while skiing off-piste in the Col de Chassoure area, known for its difficult terrain. Despite being quickly airlifted to hospital, he succumbed to internal bleeding shortly after arrival.

Halbye's career was marked by significant achievements in both business and philanthropy. He joined Kirkbi's board in 2020 and became vice chairman in 2022. Previously, he was a Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company, where he led operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Halbye also served on the board of the Mary Foundation, a charity established by Queen Mary of Denmark, for over 17 years.

His connection to the Danish royal family began when he was asked to mentor then-Prince Frederik on business matters, evolving into a close friendship with the now King and Queen. Queen Mary expressed her sorrow, describing Halbye as a person of "rare positive energy" and "vast knowledge" who was committed to making a difference.

The current Verbier 4-Vallees trail map. Credit: Verbier 4-Vallees

Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, Kirkbi's chairman, also shared his condolences, noting the profound impact Halbye had on those around him. The loss has been deeply felt by both the company and the owner family.

Verbier, where the accident occurred, is a popular ski resort in the Swiss Alps. It offers a range of slopes for different skill levels, but its off-piste areas can be particularly challenging. Skiers and riders are always advised to exercise caution, especially in these more difficult terrains.

Halbye's family has requested privacy as they mourn his loss. The Danish royal family is expected to continue with scheduled public engagements while privately grieving the loss of their friend and advisor.

About the author

Michael Fulton

Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

50+ resorts visited15 years skiing

Keep reading

More from the SnowStash desk

View all news →

FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.

4 Sept 2026

Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

4 Sept 2026

Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

2 Sept 2026

Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

1 Sept 2026

Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

31 Aug 2026

Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

28 Aug 2026

Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.

27 Aug 2026

Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.

26 Aug 2026