Today ISS A/S, a leading workplace experience and facility management company, welcomed its new Group CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen.
Thousands of ISS employees around the world watched Jacob Aarup-Andersen speak at an online live broadcasted event at the company’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“I have truly looked forward to this day since the announcement in May. I have been thoroughly impressed by how all my ISS colleagues across the world have handled an immensely challenging start to 2020,” he stated in his speech referring to the IT malware attack that hit the company in the beginning of 2020 and to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Your response has been nothing short of phenomenal, demonstrating the amazing power of our people, our values and our brand,” he went on to say.
Especially the way the 400,000+ ISS employees have supported customers during Covid-19 impressed the new Group CEO, “As a global leader in workplace experience and facility management, ISS has shown great leadership in supporting our customers and the societies we operate in, while ensuring that we provide a safe place to work for our people.
'The world is by no means out of the woods and we will continue to serve with the utmost professionalism in these trying circumstances, while keeping our colleagues and customers safe. Thank you for your continued efforts. Well done.”
Aarup-Andersen was appointed new Group CEO after a global search. He has been a member of the Executive Leadership team of Danske Bank A/S since 2016. He last served as Head of the Danish banking division having previously been Chief Financial Officer. Danske Bank is one of the largest banks in Scandinavia. He started his career with Goldman Sachs in London in 2002 and worked in a number of organisations before joining the Danske Bank Group in 2012.
The Board of Directors of ISS A/S gave Aarup-Andersen a warm welcome.
Lord Allen of Kensington, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “As ISS enters a new phase in its transformation and as we seek to leverage the progress of recent years, this is the right time for new leadership to take us to the next level.
'Jacob Aarup-Andersen has an outstanding track record of implementing change and executing strategy within large, complex organisations. His reputation as a leader is first-rate with excellent personal skills and strong followership. Jacob’s financial acumen and dynamism will also serve ISS well and ensure we are able to deliver value for all our stakeholders, consistently and sustainably.”
Aarup-Andersen takes over after Jeff Gravenhorst, who has stepped down as Group CEO after 10 years in the role and 18 years with ISS.