Danish drinks giant Carlsberg’s general counsel Ulrik Andersen is stepping down after almost three decades at the company and 25 years in the group GC role.
Commenting on his departure on LinkedIn, Andersen said it was time to “turn down the pace a bit for the next part of my professional life” as he approaches his 63rd birthday later this year.
He said: “I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have worked for such an amazing company for so many years in this position and to have worked with so many brilliant colleagues. I will stay in charge of legal and compliance until a new group GC has been appointed. That is expected to happen in the second half of this year.”
Andersen joined Carlsberg in 1998 and spent the first two years as an international lawyer in the company’s M&A line function before being promoted to group GC in 2001.
Prior to joining Carlsberg, he was a lawyer at Danish firm Dragsted in Copenhagen, having started his career in private practice at legacy firm Holman Fenwick Willan in London.
Copenhagen-based Carlsberg Group owns 180 drinks brands including Kronenbourg, Brewmaster, Brooklyn Brewery and Carlsberg.
Ulrica Fearn, Carlsberg’s chief financial officer, said: “Ulrik has played a pivotal role in Carlsberg’s transformation into a global company, leading the group’s legal and compliance function through major milestones and complex international transactions. He has been part of many defining moments during his time in Carlsberg, including the merger with Orkla’s beverage business in 2001, the acquisitions of Scottish & Newcastle in 2008 and Britvic last year.”
She said that Andersen has been offered a role to continue supporting Carlsberg as a special legal adviser, adding: “Although I truly respect Ulrik’s decision, I will miss him as a highly trusted legal professional and great colleague.”
Carlsberg rival Constellation Brands, which owns beer brands such as Corona and Modelo, is also planning a legal leadership change, with long-time chief legal officer Jim Bourdeau announcing his plans to retire in October last year. Senior legal counsel Jeff LaBarge is set to replace Bourdeau at the start of next month.
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