This episode of the Danish-language podcast Den Nye Standard welcomes Jeppe Christiansen, CEO and founder of Maj Invest. Jeppe joins me in the studio for a conversation about leadership, Maj Invest’s investments and the state of Danish society.
Jeppe opens the interview by describing himself as a nerd about his field who enjoys running a business and who is patient. He has wanted to build his own company since he was a child. After 10 years in the financial sector, Jeppe came up with the idea of a company with a 100 per cent focus on analysis and expertise. He felt there was a gap for a company focused on the long term and on analysis. That, combined with his interest in economics and society, was the start of Maj Invest.
“As a leader, it’s important to be aware of your role”
Jeppe talks about his thoughts on leadership and the values that matter to him at Maj Invest. When it comes to leadership, Haldor Topsøe is a role model for Jeppe. He is inspired by Haldor’s focus on expertise and facts, two things Jeppe has brought into his own company. According to Jeppe, both are in short supply in society. He believes everyone is focused on breaking news and solving problems quickly. That is why it has been important for him to build a culture at Maj Invest where expertise and data come first. Jeppe also wants his company to have room for different specialists, mutual respect within the team, a flat management structure and room to fail.
“The energy infrastructure has to be rebuilt, and it’s a dramatic transition that can’t be forced”
According to Jeppe, the green transition is enormous but necessary. He doesn’t believe we can allow ourselves to keep using energy sources like coal and oil, as they pollute and kill 7 million people a year. In Jeppe’s view, society has to change Denmark’s energy infrastructure, but he points out that this is a very dramatic and expensive transition that can’t be forced. It also matters, he says, whether society spends 200 billion or 400 billion. That is why he thinks we need to get better at analysing things thoroughly before we switch from one thing to another.
Jeppe also explains that Maj Invest has invested in sustainability for many years. With their NetZero division, they focus on investing across the entire value chain. According to Jeppe, this means they also invest in companies that aren’t green yet but have decided to make the transition. They also invest in companies with a focus on diversity and in the materials needed to carry out the green transition. In Jeppe’s view, that is the right way forward.