On 1 April Anders Götzsche took over as CFO of VELUX. VIEW met him for a Q&A about his first months in the company, his thoughts on our long-term strategy and what it was like to meet the Crown Prince of Denmark.
What made you say yes to this job? I could feel the passion from David (Briggs), the Chairman and Mads (Kann-Rasmussen) for the quality products we make. VELUX has a lot of the same values that I liked in Lundbeck, and after doing 58 quarterly financial statements and countless investor visits, I saw an opportunity to focus more on the business side of things. I get a lot of energy from spending time out in the organisation and meeting the people who face the customers. It is very important that HQ does not become the focal point of the business. How have your first months been? Great! It is always fun – and challenging – to try something different and learn new things, and people are very dedicated and passionate in VELUX. I was really looking forward to joining, and to help make a difference on our road to even greater success. These are very exciting times and I haven’t regretted joining for one second. We have launched a very ambitious strategy with the goal of tripling the business. What will it take for us to succeed? We must strive to do even better and continuously deliver quality products, and ultimately help more people enjoy the benefits of daylight and fresh air. We need to scale production and logistics, but in a controlled manner, so we grow in line with demand. It will put pressure on the organisation, but it is much more fun to be part of a growing company.
The strategy requires that we all see change as an opportunity. We might have to change the way we work or the way we think, and everyone must contribute to make VELUX stronger.
Anders Götzsche, CFO of VELUX
How will you contribute? I have worked in many different industries, so I bring an outside-in perspective. At the same time, I also need to learn from the culture that already exists in VELUX. My most important task as CFO is to make sure there is a balance between our growth, revenue and earnings, because it is the combination of increasing revenue and earnings that will fund the many investments and resources behind our ambitious growth initiatives. What do you see as our biggest challenges right now? The war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic have greatly impacted supply and prices on materials and components have increased. This might result in lower activity levels in general, but it might also create opportunities for us. Which opportunities is to early to say. VELUX is in a very good place right now, but we need to adapt if markets are changing, be agile and stick to our overall strategy.
How would you describe yourself? I am very ambitious, hardworking and straightforward. I have a strong foundation in Finance, and understand the story behind the numbers. My family would probably say that I can be a bit impatient at times. I am also positive by nature and I believe that coming to work should be fun. So I hope that I contribute to a positive energy in the office. What do you like to do when you are not working? Looking at holiday destinations is a favourite pastime of mine. I love to travel and try to get away as often as possible. We go skiing 1-2 times a year, but also enjoy activities such as hiking and snorkeling. One of the best holiday experiences I have had was swimming with whale sharks off the coast of Mexico. When I am not travelling, I go to the gym or ride my bike several times a week. I really enjoy spending time with family and friends, and going out for dinner, to concerts, musicals or the cinema. One of your first official “duties” as CFO was hosting a visit from HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and the Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities. What was that like? I feel VELUX is a slightly overlooked growth adventure, so it was fantastic to get the opportunity to represent the company. Of course, you always get a little starstruck when you see the royal car arrive, but our company history is quite compelling and with that grounding, it is easy to host even a Crown Prince.