Growing up my 7 years older brother was my idol, he was obviously bigger, stronger but also a local personality trough his athletic achievements in both athletics and football, way beyond our little village and the surrounding suburbs. When I was just five years old, he had already introduced me to my first taste of football and I immediately fell in love with the sport and joined the local team. Despite being clumsy and uncoordinated at first, I was determined to play with my one-year older friends who were much better than me. Over the years, I tried my hand at many other sports but football was the only one that stuck with me. With up to eight training sessions per week across various sports, my physique improved quickly and I grew to my current height of 193 cm (6'3)in just a couple of years. Eventually, I became a top-tier player and team captain. One day, our coach told me that he depended on me as the captain of the team to execute his strategy and tactics on the field, and that was when I knew that I had to take my leadership skills to the next level.
At that time my teammates knew that a high pass to the penalty area would likely result in a header goal, or asking me to be the sweeper (libero) any attackers would hurt themself on me and likely result in a counterattack. But as our team played better and better teams, I realised that not one single individual player could decide the outcome of the match, and quickly understood that only through a fully aligned and coordinated team-effort, we would succeed. That specific one day, our coach told me that he depended on me as the captain of the team to execute his strategy and tactics on the field, and that was when I knew that I had to take my leadership skills to the next level. As years passed I developed a unique ability to read the game and excelled as a captain, conducting the team like an orchestra through a position as the deep-lying playmaker, making the most assists and playing for one of the best clubs in Denmark's top league.
Unfortunately I experienced multiple severe injuries and hard rehabilitation work in my late teens, I realised that I might need an alternative path to being a professional footballer and that playing at this level, was likely coming to an end. By that time my older brother was already an accomplished athlete, having won the Danish championship, and while being very proud, I was devastated about my own outlook.
Reflecting while being in college, I realised not wanting all my hard work to go to waste, and understood I had to transfer my leadership, innovation, and strategy skills to the business world.
Later on I enrolled in the Danish military defence and got a formal leadership education, all while getting paid and staying fit. I then joined Coca-Cola, the best practical education I could wish for and found that my experience in football and defence, had given me a unique perspective on leadership and teamwork. I could apply the same skills I used on the field to help businesses achieve their organisational collective goals and become successful beyond their individual abilities. I rapidly grew in rank and responsibility, while I attending business schools and got awarded Rising Star, interviewed as one of the youngest executive leaders on the national television.
My business acumen was honed by some of the greatest organisations and best known household brands in the world, facilitating continuous learning and entrusting me with bigger and bigger executive leadership responsibilities, which now had moved abroad, working across continents and with bluechip multi-cultural and -national organisations throughout the past 20 odd years.
Now, years later, I have again transformed my skills to a new path and built a successful career as a confidant and advisor, helping companies innovate, strategise, and grow. This shift has enabled me to assist much more organisations across sectors, to succeed through strategy and innovation, typically through board roles or advisory services. And even though I can no longer play football at the same level forty odd years later, I still find myself strapping on my boots and enjoying the beautiful game from time to time.
My purpose evolved - I want to help others succeed through innovation and strategy. I want to inspire a new generation of professionals to love what they do and to reach their full potential.
- And just like how my coach depended on me, I want to be a dependable resource for those who share my passion for strategy and innovation.
Accomplished, entrepreneurial and qualified Senior Executive with exemplary leadership credentials honed from a progressive and accelerated career trajectory providing strategic, financial, sales and operational direction and leadership, in both a Corporate and Advisory capacity, for organisations within highly competitive environments including the FMCG, CPG, Food Service, Retail and Healthcare sectors throughout the last 20 years.
Kasper also has a strong commercial management background, studied at top-tier universities and business schools, respectively in the domains of economy and executive MBA. His leadership expertise has proven invaluable in navigating complex organisational, cultural and transformational issues that arise in the business world.
Throughout his career, Kasper has demonstrated a strong ability to think strategically and lead complex organisations through periods of growth and change.
Kasper J H Ditlevsen is an experienced leader in the technology industry, with over 20 years of experience in executive roles at Fortune 500 companies. He then focused on enabling major transformational projects through advisory services, either in the capacity as a board professional, or as an external advisor or confidant to business owners or top executives.
He has a deep understanding of financial statements and has successfully managed large budgets and investments.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Kasper is committed to strategy & innovation. He has served on the board of several enterprises, as well as earlier stage companies focused on promoting innovation and strategic growth opportunities through customer centricity, technology adaptation and data-driven decision making.
Kasper also serves as nominee director or non-executive director on various portfolio companies, on behalf of private equity funds.
Executive Leadership Roles:
Aggregion - Chief Executive Officer
Symphony Retail AI - VP Europe & CEO Russia & CIS
Nexus - Partner
KPMG - Head of Practice - Strategy & Operations Advisory
Uhrenholt A/S - Commercial Director Eastern Europe
Foxtrot - Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Milkiland NV - Chief Operating Officer
Jahn & Jensen Group - Global Commercial Officer
RB (formerly Reckitt Benckiser) - Head of Field Sales
EPSON - Brand Manager & Head of BD Nordics
Coca-Cola - Regional Sales Manager
Key expertise used in roles:
Leadership with full P&L accountability for $1.2Bn turnover organisations, leading up to 10.000 large multi-functional and multi-cultural teams, combined with in-depth expertise and industry credentials across the Retail Consumer & Goods environment.
Highly commercially literate, analytical, and financially focused; equipped with a professional background schooled in the best practice principles of blue chip organisations.
Financial expertise: Great understanding of financial statements and ability providing guidance on financial matters.
Leadership experience: Track record of leadership success served as credibility and tangible examples of best practice, enabling guidance and direction to the organization leadership.
Equipped with a demonstrable track record of success initiating, developing and executing sales, price, brand, and customer strategies focused on driving aggressive and sustainable revenue, margin and market share growth.
Confidant & Board Roles:
BR Capital - Nominee director w/ portfolio companies
Aggregion - Member of Advisory Board
Trusted Data Technologies - Non-Executive Director
KPMG - Member of Global Strategy Advisory Board
iNT-Agencies - Chairman of the Advisory Board
Storewars Business Simulation - Non-Executive Director
ArtBuild Hotel Management Grp. - Non-Executive Director
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Intl. - Board Member
SolarHouse Energy - Board Member
Boutique TV - Advisory Board Member
Key expertise used in roles:
Strategic & Innovative thinking: Ability to think critically and strategically about the organisation's goals and how to achieve them, while adding longterm client value.
Financial expertise: Great understanding of financial statements and ability providing guidance on financial matters.
Leadership experience: Track record of leadership success served as credibility and tangible examples of best practice, enabling guidance and direction to the organisation leadership.
Legal experience: 20+ years abroad involved in legal matters across international jurisdictions allow for a profound advice and guidance on legal general and selected matters.
Corporate Governance: Equipped with a substantial toolbox and experience over the years, a great level of capabilities and skills has been developed over the years, to meet fundamental requirements across industries and jurisdictions.
Diversity: Board construction with members from different backgrounds and perspectives brought new ideas and approaches to the organisations.
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