Anders Svennesen resigns for new asset owner job abroad

START

“It’s a very exciting job and opportunity and it’s also very interesting for my family,” says Anders Svennesen, adding that he for some time has been keen to try his wings abroad but that it is about more than just the job. “This is right for me work-wise but it’s also right for the family.”

So far, he has spent his whole career as well as his studies in Denmark. He has, however, in periods commuted between Denmark and the Czech Republic, where his family at times has resided. 

Anders Svennesen will stay on working at Danske Bank until June in order to have time to hand over his responsibilities. At the same time, he notes that there are plenty of practicalities to take care of in preparation for the move abroad. 

During his five and a half years at the Danish bank, Anders Svennesen has held a number of different positions. In 2014, he left his job as co-chief investment officer for investments at the pension fund ATP in order to take on the position as chief investment officer of Danica Pension, which is the pension company arm of Danske Bank. He then took on the additional role as chief investment officer of Danske Bank Asset Management. Due to the intense workload, he then handed over parts of his asset management role to a co-chief investment officer and at the end of last year, he stepped back from his position at Danica Pension. 

Anders Svennesen’s resignation represents one of several recent high-profile departures from the Danish bank. However, he emphasises that him leaving is not related to that of Henrik Gade Jepsen, who in February stepped down as CEO of Danske Bank Asset Management and also joined the bank from ATP. In fact, Anders Svennesen explains that he handed in his notice a few hours before finding out that Henrik Gade Jepsen was leaving, which also was the reason why the bank decided to postpone the announcement of Anders Svennesen’s departure for a few weeks. Furthermore, he adds that the recently-announced departure of Jesper Langmack, who has been chief investment officer for equities and alternatives at Danica Pension since 2015, neither has anything to do with the other job changes. 

Asked about how his new job came about, Anders Svennesen explains that he was approached about the position and that it was not a case of him proactively looking to leave the bank. Looking back at his time at Danica Pension/Danske Bank, he says that his most proud achievement is building up the new investment strategy, investment products and investment teams. “We have a very robust approach and strong teams that are very well-performing. The most important part of building up an investment organisation is about investment processes, approaches and philosophy. Then you’re not so dependent on a few people but it’s really the teamwork that delivers the result,” he comments. 

After more than five years as chief investment officer at Danske Bank & Danica Pension, Anders Svennesen is leaving Denmark to take on a new role abroad. While he reveals that his new job will be at a non-Danish asset owner and refers to it as an “adventure abroad”, he says that he at the moment is unable to disclose any further details as his new employer for the time being wants to keep things confidential. 

“It’s a very exciting job and opportunity and it’s also very interesting for my family,” says Anders Svennesen, adding that he for some time has been keen to try his wings abroad but that it is about more than just the job. “This is right for me work-wise but it’s also right for the family.” So far, he has spent his whole career as well as his studies in Denmark. He has, however, in periods commuted between Denmark and the Czech Republic, where his family at times has resided.  Anders Svennesen will stay on working at Danske Bank until June