Some roles you grow into. Others you help build from the ground up.

That's been my journey.

When ESS-FOOD decided to expand into China, I wasn't just joining a company - I was helping to create it. Morten, our former CEO, approached the trading team I was part of and brought us in to start something new. That was twelve years ago. Today, I'm General Manager of the Shanghai office, and I've been here ever since. 

It's not something I ever planned for. My background was in production, managing projects in factories. But the more I worked, the more I realised what really motivated me: people. Communication. Problem-solving. Connection. That's what led me to sales. And eventually, trading. 

You start with nothing. An idea. A contact. And then you build. You match the right supplier with the right customer. You make something happen. And in the process, you create value. That never stops being rewarding.

What makes ESS-FOOD different is how we treat people. From day one, it was clear that this was a company built on trust. We don't own factories or machines. We don't measure value in assets. We measure it in people - and how we work together.

There's a Danish mindset here, even in Shanghai. A culture of openness and teamwork. Of giving people freedom - and expecting responsibility in return. You don't clock in and out. You're trusted to manage your own time. And if you have a better idea? Speak up. Management listens. 

That kind of culture isn't always a given in trading. But here, it's real. 

One of the things I'm most proud of is the recent restructuring of our China operations. We brought multiple Danish Crown entities together under one roof - streamlining the business and turning a loss-making setup into a profitable, focused and trading operation. It was complex. It took hard decisions. But we did it as a team.

That's how I lead. I take the vision from management and turn it into something tangible for our team. Clear goals. Clear strategy. And then we execute. 

After 12 years, I'm still learning. New products, new suppliers, new markets. That curiosity is what keeps me going. And it’s what I try to pass on. Stay curious. Stay humble. Whether you’re dealing with a customer, a supplier, or a colleague - people always respond to honesty.

Outside of work, I dive. Literally. I’ve been scuba diving around the world for the last 20 years. It’s where I disconnect - but also where I learn. Diving teaches discipline. Focus. Never panic. Know your limits. Stick to the plan.

In many ways, it’s like trading.

You stay calm. You stay sharp. And you make things happen.