DENMARK – The European meat cooperative, Danish Crown has appointed Thomas Ahle as the company’s new chief financial officer (CFO), effective February 2020.
Thomas will take over from the Preben Sunke, who will concentrate on the role of group chief operating officer and vice chief executive officer of Danish Crown.
He will join Danish Crown from Refresco, an European bottling beverages operator, where he currently holds the position of chief financial officer.
Thomas, who is an economist graduate from the University of Aarhus, has also worked at Aarhus Oliefabrik (now AAK), where during his six years in the company he held various leadership roles in both the finance and accounting department.
He has also served as a business controller in Cadbury in charge of Northern Europe, and later as the CFO in the business before the company merged with with Kraft Foods in 2010.
Erik Bredholt, chairman of Danish Crown, said: “Thomas has a strong track record with great results in both finance and change management. At the same time, he has broad international experience, and he is a leader with strong communication skills.”
Commenting on his appointment, Ahle expressed his commitment to working with the group under his new role in supporting the company’s goals. “I look forward to starting at Danish Crown, which is an exciting company with strong values and a clear strategy,” he said.
The company has been striving to strengthen its corporate structure and recently created a new brand identity aimed at better positioning the company for a more sustainable future.
As part of its rebranding, Tulip Food Company will change its name to Danish Crown Foods. The company has also created a new logo and visual identity unveiled at its sites and offices across 23 countries, along with the launch of its new brand web site.
To further promote its sustainability agenda, Danish Crown has also unveiled a goal to create a completely climate-neutral value chain by 2050 in a race to become the world’s leading producer of sustainable meat.
The company aims to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases for each kilogramme of pork it produces from farm to fork by at least 50% by 2030 compared.
By the end of 2019, the company said 90% of the pigs supplied to its abattoirs will come from sustainability-certified farmers.
