E-Malt.com News article: Denmark: Carlsberg chairman expects new CEO to step up in August

Carlsberg AS chairman Povl Krogsgaard-Larsen said in an interview with Danish daily Boersen he expects a new chief executive to be appointed in August to help the brewery to participate in mergers and acquisitions, AFX News Limited reported July 18.

Carlsberg announced in June its chief executive Nils Smedegaard Andersen was leaving the group to take the helm at transport company AP Moller Maersk.

The brewery sector is consolidating at a rapid pace and, if a new chief executive is not found shortly, Carlsberg runs the risk of losing momentum, Krogsgaard-Larsen said according to Boersen.

Investors and analysts have speculated Carlsberg may take over British peer Scottish & Newcastle, with which it co-owns Russian brewery group BBH, and Krogsgaard-Larsen did not rule out this possibility.

'Scottish & Newcastle is an interesting partner for Carlsberg for several reasons,' he said.

Krogsgaard-Larsen said he would prefer a Dane as new chief executive, as Carlsberg is deeply integrated in the Danish society and needs a leader who understands the country's political and bureaucratic system.

Carlsberg's present chief financial officer Joern P Jensen and executive vice president Joergen Buhl Rasmussen are two likely candidates for the post, the chairman said.

Boersen added Joern P Jensen has previously been identified as a favourite candidate by the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort.


18 July, 2007