Arla Foods has named Peter Gioertz-Carlsen as the new executive vice president for Arla UK with effect from 1 August 2014, replacing Peter Lauritzen who has decided to take a global role in the Arla Group prior to his retirement in 2015.

Lauritzen, who has successfully led Arla’s business in the UK for the last seven years, has decided to step down as an executive vice president and member of Arla Foods’ executive management group. He will continue to work for the global business reporting to Arla’s CEO, Peder Tuborgh, before retiring.

Lauritzen says, “After 44 years of working for Arla, now feels like the right time to plan my future retirement.  Working within the UK business has been one of the highlights of my career having overseen the merger with Milk Link and integration of 2,800 British farmer owners into our European cooperative as well as the delivery of the world’s largest fresh milk facility in Aylesbury and other significant investments.”

Peter Gioertz-Carlsen, who is currently executive vice president and head of Arla in Denmark, joins the UK business on 1 August.  “I feel privileged to be able to join the UK team as it’s such a dynamic and exciting market, offering significant opportunities,” he says. “Contributing over a quarter of our global turnover, the business has already achieved many milestones including its undisputed number one cooperative position in the UK.  I look forward to taking the business from strength to strength.”

Gioertz-Carlsen will remain as executive vice president for Arla Denmark until the end of July.