Lars Johan Heikensten (born 13 September 1950) is a former governor of Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) and Doctor of Economics.

In the autumn of 1995 Heikensten became Deputy Governor of Sveriges Riksbank with particular responsibility for monetary policy.

Heikensten was appointed executive director of the Nobel Foundation in 2010, a position he held until the end of 2020.

During this period the economic position of the foundation was strengthened as a consequence of healthy growth in capital and a strict spending policy.

The outreach activities connected with the Nobel Prize developed rapidly during the period and revenues had more than doubled when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020.

During his time at the Nobel Foundation Heikensten also had to deal with an acute crisis in the Swedish Academy in 2018–2019.

Besides, he has written several books, numerous articles in professional journals and participated actively in the Swedish and European economic policy debate.