Christian Barker has been appointed the executive vice president for ingredient supplier Chr Hansen’s health and nutrition division. Barker joined the firm in May 2012, as head of corporate strategic development. Prior to this, Barker was a partner at McKinsey & Company, where he spent 15 years serving global clients on a range of topics including growth strategy, M&A, business building, and restructuring. He joined McKinsey in Copenhagen in 1996, worked for McKinsey in London and Buenos Aires, and from 1999 to 2010 he was based in New York/New Jersey before returning to Copenhagen.

“We are ready for the next step for this division and we look for different management competencies to take us there. We will enforce our strategic focus and look at new opportunities for future growth. I am happy that Christian Barker has accepted to head up this challenge. He has substantial experience with identifying and developing growth opportunities and I look forward to expanding our collaboration.” says Cees de Jong, CEO.

CBarker will replace Henrik Dalboege, who will be leaving Chr. Hansen as of 30 September 2013. Henrik Dalboege has been with the company since 2006 and from 2007 as part of the executive management.

Currently, Chr. Hansen’s executive board consists of Cees de Jong, Klaus Pedersen, Knud Vindfeldt, Carsten Bennike and Jesper Allentoft.