Leading in digitalization and sustainability to create customer and people value

Ib Kunøe has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and main shareholder in Columbus since 2004.

Ib Kunøe is the founder and owner of Consolidated Holdings and is the main shareholder and Chairman of the Board in a broad variety of Danish owned companies. Mercuri Urval (1974) and Telmore (2000) was founded by Ib and later sold off. He has extensive experience in turning around struggling businesses and making them profitable. He has special competencies in company management, including management of IT companies. Ib has a background as a professional officer (major) and holds an HD Graduate Diploma in Organisation & Management.

You can read more about Ib Kunøe here.

Sven Madsen joined the Board in 2007.

Sven is CFO in Consolidated Holdings A/S and has a background as an auditor in a number of auditing firms. Sven has been working with corporate reporting, financing, and corporate management in Codan Insurance, FLS Industries, SystemForum, Atea and Consolidated Holdings. His special competencies are financial accounting, economic and financial trouble shooting and mergers and acquisitions. Sven holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting and an MSc in Business Economics and Auditing.

You can read more about Sven Madsen here.

Karina Kirk joined the Board of Directors in 2018.

Karina Kirk has more than 20 years of management experience from the consulting industry holding leading positions in growing and developing management consulting companies as well as being a senior strategy advisor for top management in large corporations in the Nordics. As an advisor, Karina's field of expertise is in particular within commercial leadership, customer centric business development and company transformation in industries such as Transportation, Tele and Finance. Her experience includes Partner in QVARTZ for 8 years, a Nordic top-tier strategy and transformation consultancy with global reach as well as partner in Future Lab Business Consulting and consultant in Accenture. Karina owns KIRK & CO advisory.

You can read more about Karina Kirk here.

Peter Skov Hansen has been a board member since 2012.

Peter Skov Hansen received his license as a State Authorized Public Accountant in 1980 and became partner in CityRevision in 1981. Peter Skov Hansen became Partner in Deloitte in 1997 when CityRevision merged with Deloitte. Peter Skov Hansen has specialized in corporate finance, tax and business development for small and medium sized companies with focus on international IT and real estate industries. For a number of years Peter Skov Hansen has been Head of one of Deloitte's local tax divisions and member of the Management Group in Deloitte Copenhagen. Peter Skov Hansen originally graduated as a Shipping Controller at APM Mærsk.

You can read more about Peter Skov Hansen here.

Per Ove Kogut joined the Board of Directors in 2022.

Per has more than 25 years of experience, including 14 years as CEO in NNIT and 11 years of experience from Computer Associates, most recently as CEO in Northern Europe. Per also has experience from the financial sector and an educational background as a Master, Public Administration & IT science from the University of Copenhagen.

You can read more about Per Ove Kogut here.

Favorite leadership principle?

"Induce energy, partly because it's anchored around servant leadership. When going into a workshop consider if you are in the right mind-state to get the meeting where you want to. Having a positive state of mind, inspiring potential,  empowering and developing people to do a good job.

Also, bring the ambition to see what we can achieve. Focus on what you want to achieve, focus on the positive."

Favorite Columbus value?

"Deliver customer success. Because we need to bring all our other values and leadership into play to do it. It’s about being totally customer centric and measuring and validating our customers’ gains and benefits from our deliverables – and in this way show that we really do care about their success.

And this can only be done through competent and purpose-driven employees who understands to collaborate towards well defined objectives."

Benefits of being a Columbus leader?

"For me, it's having many great colleagues that can challenge me and be challenged to grow together. This mindset is apparent not just in our area but overall in the whole of the organization. It also helps to have loyal customers to work with whom we have built trust over the years with."

Favorite Columbus value?

"Building and extending Trust to others is the value, I appreciate the most.

It is so important to be trustworthy in order to succeed with customers, but it is just as important for us as leaders to extend trust to our people in order to make them grow and take responsibility.
It just creates so much energy and inspiration and I believe it can be a game-changer for Columbus in our aim to keep and attract even more talented people."

Benefits of being a Columbus leader?

"I am constantly challenged in managing change and driving business through people - we work a lot with this in Columbus. I have personally learnt a lot about working with very diverse cultures, getting buy-ins and becoming more emphatic.

People are the most valuable asset in our business and I love to help to create a culture of care and trust. It’s what makes us one team – One Columbus, as we call it."

Favorite Columbus leadership principle?

"Build for the future. It aligns so well with creating customer success and is the underpinning of everything we are doing with our organization and our internal system improvements.  

This will really position us better for the future of the enterprise market and help us become true trusted digital advisors."

Favorite Leadership principle?

"Build for future and Induce Energy. I believe that building for the future starts with our people. As leaders, it’s essential that we ensure we have the right talent, leadership, culture, and operating models to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

Personally, the principle of Inducing Energy resonates deeply with me as it aligns with my approach to work. It’s especially important to foster energy and enthusiasm to ensure we are all moving in the same direction, particularly in a global organization where we often work in virtual teams."

Favorite Columbus value?

“Collaborate. To me, collaboration is how we as ONE Columbus, transcend borders and business areas to delivered unparalleled value to our customers. Our unity is our strength and it’s when we join forces and collaborate, we deliver true customer success. 

Collaboration is also about fostering an environment where each of us feels motivated and valued. Through collaboration, we create a space where learnings and knowledge sharing flourish, nurturing a robust and united culture. This, in turn, benefits not only us as employees but also enhances the experience of our customers.” 

The leadership principles of "building for the future" and "understanding the bigger picture" are essential for providing value and creating a better tomorrow for both our customers and employees. By embracing a forward-thinking mindset, we're not just responding to the present - we're shaping the future of our market. Through this vision, we build a brand that stands the test of time, consistently delivering value and trust to our customers, employees, and other stakeholders.