You started at Xella at the beginning of 2023. Why did you choose to work for Xella?

I've been working with the construction industry since 1992. I also worked for Xella's biggest competitor in Denmark and in Scandinavia. And for the last ten years I have also worked in sales in the construction industry. And now back to autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Xella is a very interesting company with a wide range of products. It is great to be here at Xella.

30 years is a really long time. Why did you choose construction?

My first job was in a carpet shop in the business-to-business sector. But I also played handball. And one of the coaches was looking for a salesman for the construction industry, and he asked me if it would be interesting for me. Long story short: I got the job and haven't been in another line of business since.

Another reason is also that my father was a bricklayer and constructor with his own business, so I spent a lot of time with him at work when I was a child. He also taught me to get up in the morning and get started...

When I think about myself and my job, in the construction industry, I really like it. I've been in this branch for so many years. So it's my home. It's my way to work.

Do you still play handball?

No, it was many years ago. Today I like to run twice a week. Just to get some exercise and get out into nature and feel the fresh air.

What do you like about the construction industry?

When you have been in the business for such a long time, you get to know a lot of people, you know how to build things. The combination of creating a contract between contractor, merchant, and installer is fun when it´s successful.

What has changed between now and 30 years ago?

At the end of the day, sales is sales and AAC is AAC. But I think the way we do business today is much more professional.

How has the importance of sustainability changed since then?

It's much more important: When you talk to customers now, it's completely normal to talk about how much CO2 the project will have and how to reduce the amount of emissions. Here, we must be a leader.

What do you like about working at Xella?

It's good that we have our own production and offer such a wide range of construction solutions. I spend a lot of time with the sales force visiting customers. I get the most energy out of my job when I visit customers or construction sites or contractors. And of course, it's also important to have days in the office to connect with the team and create structure for sales and agreements.

What needs to change at Xella to make it even better?

I think it is important that Xella has such a strong focus on circularity projects and has a lot of focus on EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). We still need to attract more customers to our sustainable, affordable and efficient solutions.

What do you think is your biggest challenge between now and the end of the year?

The market is tough right now. The most important task is to make sure that we have control of the costs. On the other hand, we must make sure that we find the best solutions for our existing customers and at the same time attract new customers despite the current conditions.

I'm still new to the company. For me, it's important that we have a group of salespeople that feel good about the job, and I feel good about working with them. It's like a soccer team. You are strong together.

And personally?

I have been married for 23 years. Wow. We have a daughter who is 20 and lived in Australia for more than six months. So we are looking forward to seeing her back home again in Summer. Since she left, our house has been really empty and quiet. I am looking forward to a crowded house again.

What role does safety play in your workplace?

The most important thing regarding safety for us in Sales is being safe in the car and the way we drive. So, no phone, no texting, focus when you drive.

But in my personal life, safety is also important.