New Managing Director Lars Lehmann takes overs the helm of the Company with operations in Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka

Selangor, June 21, 2016 – Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad (Carlsberg Malaysia Group) hosted a cocktail reception to bid adieu to its outgoing Managing Director Henrik Juel Andersen and welcomed Lars Lehmann, the new leader who will head the helm of the dynamic brewer that has investments in Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, plus regional reach via exports to Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan.

The reception themed ‘Change of Coach’ is not simply inspired by or in conjunction with the UEFA EURO 2016TM Championship, of which Carlsberg is the proud official beer. To the brewer, a Managing Director is like a manager of a football club. He is the man who is accountable for growing the business, strategizing the game plan, placing the right people in the job of striker, defender, midfielder or goalkeeper and most importantly, managing the operation in the most responsible and sustainable manner.

Henrik Juel Andersen was appointed as Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia in July 2013. Under his management and leadership, the Company has successfully delivered growth in revenue and profits for three consecutive years on the back of robust cost efficiency and effective profit optimization measures in Malaysia as well as portfolio premiumisation and strategic acquisition of MayBev Pte. Ltd. in Singapore.

“My heartfelt thanks to the supportive customers, distributors, consumers, shareholders, communities and my fellow colleagues who have made my journey here a memorable one. With your confidence in the heritage, people, brands and charitable projects of the Company, we have delivered satisfactory performance that contributed to sustainable shareholders value”, Andersen said in his opening address.

He added: “Personally, it is bittersweet having to leave Carlsberg Malaysia, which has been a big part of me. I shall assume the role of CEO, Lao Brewery Company Ltd, overseeing Laos and Cambodia. Lao Brewery is one of top performers in Carlsberg Group, which brews Lao Beer, produces soft drinks and drinking water".

Andersen handed over a football jersey, with the word ‘Lehmann’ printed on it, to his successor Lars Lehmann as an act of welcoming the new coach on-board. New Managing Director Lars Lehmann said: “Over the last 13 years with the Carlsberg Group, I have had the pleasure of working in various operations in Eastern and Western Europe, completed mergers and acquisitions in Russia, reengineered global export business into entrepreneur growth engine and successfully turnaround few Western Europe operations into profitable business”.

“Although, I am relatively new in Asia, I believe the difference between Europe and Asia is the importance of relationships when doing business regardless whether the stakeholders are consumers, customers, shareholders, regulators, communities or employees. I am very keen to learn from you the Asian ways of doing business and get to know you all personally”, he commented.

Prior to the appointment, Lehmann was the Regional CEO, Western Europe Challenger Markets responsible for 11 European markets covering markets like Germany, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Portugal, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Carlsberg ExLiD (Export, License and Duty Free), with a total turnover of 10 billion Danish Kroner or RM 6 billion. Before joining Carlsberg Group, he was with Unilever Denmark for eight years in Sales and marketing.

The cocktail reception saw approximately 200 trade partners, representatives of the F&B associations and members of the media. Guests were welcomed with an array of ice cold beers, stouts and ciders by Carlsberg Malaysia and shared light moments at the reception.