Denmark’s Best Chairman Award 2008 – Anders Knutsen, Danisco and LADEGAARD A/S

This is the second time the award is granted in Denmark and it is also granted in the other Nordic countries.

The jury said:

For six years Anders Knutsen has been Chairman of the Board of Danisco, which has operations in 47 countries within food ingredients, agriculture and industry. During this period Knutsen has participated in three acquisitions in Europe and the USA. Knutsen is a very result-oriented person and spearheaded the sale of the sugar division, providing Danisco with a liquidity inflow, which in terms of timing is impressive in Danish industry at the onset of financial market turbulence.The directors serving on Danisco’s Board consider Knutsen a competent chairman who is good at developing management processes and the resultant routines. In a leading international business like Danisco, the chairman is very conscious about which issues to prioritise.

Anders Knutsen is widely recognised for his personal integrity, striking a strong balance between distance and closeness in respect of the day-to-day management. Serving on merely eight boards of directors, Knutsen has the time needed to be strongly committed to his board work. The Chairman shows great maturity and authority. With constant innovations and focus on R&D platforms, Knutsen also has strong competencies in this area.Danisco has provided details of owner structure and corporate governance in its annual report. The Board has clarified the company’s values and set up ethical rules for the employees. The Board exerts extremely strong profit control over its operating activities in 47 countries. The Danisco Board always has the final say in key decisions. The Board holds seven meetings a year and subsequently evaluates its work. Constructive criticism includes better protection of whistle blowers and increased focus on CO₂ emissions.

The Board consists of nine directors, one of whom is Finnish and 20% of whom are women.

Anders Knutsen, 61

• Chairman of the Boards of Danisco, Copenhagen Business School, Ladegaard A/S and Rossini Caviar A/S
• Deputy Chairman of the Boards of Fritz Hansen A/S, Hersild & Heggov A/S and Topdanmark A/S
• Director of Augustinus Fabrikker A/S and Katholm Invest A/S
• MSc Economics
• Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2002
• Deputy Chairman 1999-2002
• Joined the Board of Directors in 1997
• Re-elected 2007, term expires 2009

About Danisco

With a rich and innovative portfolio, Danisco is a world leader in food ingredients, enzymes and bio-based solutions. Using nature’s own materials, science and the knowledge of its 9,500 employees, Danisco designs and delivers bio-based ingredients that meet market demand for healthier and safer products. Danisco’s ingredients are used globally in a wide range of industries – from bakery, dairy and beverages to animal feed, laundry detergents and bioethanol – offering functional, economic and environmental benefits. Headquartered in Denmark and operating from more than 120 locations, Danisco’s key focus is to become the customers’ First choice and a truly market-driven global business. In addition, Danisco has one of the most efficient sugar production platforms in Europe.

Find out more at www.danisco.com.

Results for 2007/2008

Danisco meets the criteria of having a presence in the international markets, above-average results, a technological and innovative edge and long-term goals and growth. Danisco’s strength lies in its distribution and R&D platforms. Danisco has found a buyer for its sugar division paying DKK 5-7 billion, which is perfect timing given the international liquidity crisis. This provides the company with a financial scope that is unique in the Danish business sector given the current unfavourable market situation. Moreover, within industrial biotech Danisco has teamed up with Goodyear and with the approval of the acquisition of Abitec (food ingredients) Danisco is now the market leader. Danisco also has a joint venture with DuPont within second generation bioethanol. Together with Tennessee University, the joint venture has managed to extract bioethanol from wood fibre, and the first pilot plant will come on stream at end-2009. Revenue of DKK 18,778 million and EBIT of DKK 2.151 million.

The award

A 140 cm high challenge sculpture made by the internationally known artist Marian Heyerdahl: aa gilded sarcophagus, symbolising eternal life for the business, with an egg mosaic that symbolises the importance of conceiving new ideas.

The jury

The jury has evaluated the candidates on the basis of 13 criteria and questionnaires sent to all the candidates’ board members.

The jury consisted of:

Partner Vibeke Bak Solok, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Headhunter Aase Hoeck, KarriereKvinder.dk
CEO Maria Sennels, Burson-Marsteller
CEO Pål Thore Krosby, Aller Press
Anders Drejer, Professor and management expert at Aarhus School of Business, University of Aarhus, and head of Strategy-Lab
Board analyst and chairman of the jury Gunnar Eckbo, BoardNews.no

The award is sponsored by: PricewaterhouseCoopers.