March 30, 2022

Chr. Hansen EVP and CSO steps down

Chr. Hansen's executive vice president and chief scientific officer, Thomas Schäfer, who is also a member of the company's executive board, will step down as EVP and CSO of Chr. Hansen Holding A/S effective March 31, 2022.

Schäfer has been with the company since November 2017.

Since Schäfer started in Chr. Hansen four and a half years ago, he has brought significant scientific knowledge to the company and strengthened the way Chr. Hansen approaches science, the company said.

As of April 1, 2022, Henrik Joerck Nielsen, currently senior vice president of animal health, will be promoted to CSO. Nielsen has a PhD in Biotechnology from the Technical University of Denmark and National Institute of Health in Maryland. He did his post-doctoral research fellow at the National Cancer Institute in the United States. After being with McKinsey for six years, he joined Chr. Hansen in 2014. Nielsen brings a strong science and commercial experience to his new role.

Schäfer will continue as chief science advisor to chief executive officer Mauricio Graber, as well as continuing as member of the board of directors in Bacthera AG, Chr. Hansen's joint venture with Lonza AG, and the BioInnovation institute as Chr. Hansen's representative.

Graber said: "I would like to thank Thomas for his contribution to Chr. Hansen and I look forward to continuing working with Thomas in his new role as chief science advisor. At the same time, I would like to congratulate Henrik on his new position as chief scientific officer, as we embark on the next journey as a bioscience-based company."

Following the change, the executive board will consist of Graber and chief finance officer Lise Mortensen.

- Chr. Hansen