wˈʌn sˈʌn, ɡˈɑːdtfɹɪd kˈɜːk kɹˈɪstɪˌænsən dʒˌiːkˌeɪsˈiː, wʌz nˈeɪmd ðə mˈænɪdʒɪŋ dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌvðə fˈæmɪli bˈɪznəs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɛvən ʃˈɔːɹtli bᵻfˌoːɹ hɪz fˈɑːðɚ dˈaɪd ænd dʒˈʌst tˈuː jˈɪɹz lˈeɪɾɚ hiː bˈɔːt ˈaʊt hɪz θɹˈiː bɹˈʌðɚz.
One son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (GKC), was named the managing director of the family business in 1957 shortly before his father died and just two years later he bought out his three brothers.