January 23, 2013
"I am pleased to announce that Peder Holk Nielsen will succeed Steen Riisgaard as president and chief executive officer," says Henrik Gürtler, chairman of the board at Novozymes. "Peder Holk Nielsen's ability to couple market insight and research capabilities is key to deliver innovation and to continue our growth strategy. He was a clear first choice in our international search process. I thank Steen Riisgaard for his 12 years of successful leadership in building the company, and I am sure that Peder Holk Nielsen will ensure the continued expansion of our position as world leader in bioinnovation."
Peder is currently serving as Novozymes's executive vice president and head of Enzyme Business since 2007 during the transition to new appointment. Formerly, he held various management positions within the company and Novo Industri/Novo Nordisk across business development, R&D, quality management and sales & marketing.
He holds a Masters in Science and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Technical University of Denmark, Bachelor in International Business Management from Copenhagen Business School, and is also member of the Board of Directors of Hempel A/S and of LEO Pharma A/S.
Novozymes executive management will organise into a functional structure with all current executive vice presidents and joined by Andrew Fordyce who is the VP of Sales and Customer Solutions since 1993. Previously, he held positions in Novozymes's commercial operations, R&D and production in Denmark, Switzerland and the US.
