Jacob Aarup-Andersen at the Carlsberg Museum in Copenhagen.
Photographer: Carsten Snejbjerg/BloombergCarlsberg’s Banker-to-CEO Embraces Positive Energy: ‘I Never Yell at Anyone’
Jacob Aarup-Andersen, who spent two decades in banking, talks about the risks of a “negative heartbeat” and his drive to push the brewer beyond beer.
Jacob Aarup-Andersen took charge of Carlsberg A/S in 2023, at the height of the Danish brewer’s dispute with the Kremlin over its Russian exit and when consumer sentiment was flagging across key markets such as China.
To expand beyond the traditional beer business, the chief executive officer spearheaded a deal to buy British soft drinks maker Britvic Plc for $4.2 billion. The former banker also aims to take further market share in China, but plans to continue to stay clear of the US. Since taking charge last September, Carlsberg’s shares have lost about a quarter of their value, recently prompting Aarup to buy company stock worth $820,000.