Ex-Danish Crown CEO to advise Russian meat group
Russia’s Miratorg, which harbours ambitions to become a global leader in the meat industry, announced the appointment of Johannesen as an advisor to its board of directors on 9 August.
Johannesen led pork producer Danish Crown for 27 years, but stepped down in April 2016 after helping the business become one of the world’s largest pork export businesses. He started out at the company as an 18-year-old junior abattoir clerk and had been with Danish Crown for 45 years.
Alexander Linnik, chairman of Miratorg’s board of directors, said he was pleased to have someone of Johannesen’s calibre advise the business.
Fine-tuning needed
“I am confident that his unique experience, excellent expertise and a deep understanding of the global meat market will strengthen the position of our company in the Russian market, due to increased efficiency in business processes and accelerate the development of strategically important export markets,” said Linnik.
Johannesen will have to use his expertise to help Miratorg with its ambitious RUB160bn ($2.4bn) project of building a vertically integrated line for the production of chicken, pork and beef.
Miratorg has publicly stated that it wants to transform Russia into a “market leader in the global meat industry”, and this project is the crown jewel in this aspiration.
Johannesen said he was “pleased to join the Miratorg team”, but added the Russian agribusiness needed to “fine-tune the entire value chain” to achieve its target of becoming a meat industry leader.
