Palsgaard announces new CEO

Press release

Palsgaard A/S is pleased to announce that Helle Müller Petersen will join Palsgaard as Chief Executive Officer as of 9^th January 2023.

Helle is a highly experienced business leader who has worked in senior roles within the food and beverage industry around the world. She will succeed Jakob Thøisen, who will join the Board of Directors of the Schou Foundation.

“I am excited to welcome Helle to the Palsgaard family,” said Anders Brix (CEO of the Schou Foundation which owns Palsgaard and chairman of Palsgaard A/S). “Her track record, depth of international experience and fit to our corporate culture makes her an ideal leader to build on the great work of Jakob and the rest of our heart working people.”

Helle joins Palsgaard from a position as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Denmark for Arla Foods. Her career includes 25 years with Carlsberg Group within sales and marketing and includes management positions in Nepal, Croatia, China and Malaysia.

Helle is a native of Denmark and holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Odense. She is married and has two children.

Commenting on her new role as CEO, Helle said, “I see a strong fit between Palsgaard’s corporate values and focus on ESG and my personal values. Furthermore, I appreciate that I will be joining a company which is owned by a foundation and therefore has a long-term view on how to strengthen and grow a business. I look forward to joining Palsgaard’s leadership team and building on the great foundation and growth potential in the business”.

Jakob Thøisen will succeed Rasmus Christiansen on the Board of Directors of the Schou Foundation from January 2023.

Jakob Thøisen joined Palsgaard in 2004 as Chief Commercial Officer and took on the role of CEO in 2011. During Jakob’s tenure, the business has experienced continued growth and he is leaving a company which has never been in a stronger position. He now wants to pursue a career as a professional board member.

“Jakob has played a crucial role in the growth and globalization of our company over the past two decades. I am therefore happy that we can continue to draw on his experiences in the Board of Directors of the Schou Foundation and Palsgaard A/S,” said Anders Brix.

Rasmus Christiansen turned 70 years old earlier in 2022 and is according to the statutes of the Schou Foundation obliged to step down at the end of the year. Rasmus has served on the board for more than 20 years. “I want to thank Rasmus for his long-time contribution to the Schou Foundation and Palsgaard,” said Anders Brix.