17 Dec 2009 --- Arne Frank is to become new President and CEO for AarhusKarlshamn AB (AAK) and will assume this position during spring 2010. AAK is the world’s leading manufacturer of high value-added speciality vegetable fats.

Arne Frank is 51 years old and holds a M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from The Institute of Technology at Linköping University in Sweden. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Carl Zeiss Vision and was also the CEO of the company until recently. Arne Frank’s previous career includes being the CEO of TAC for many years and of the division of the Schneider Group that TAC became a part of after the French acquisition. The division operates within the areas of building management, security, and energy efficiency solutions, and had a turnover of nearly SEK 20 billion with a high profitability.

“For some time we have been looking for the person who can take over the baton after Jerker Hartwall and bring AAK to new successes and strengthen the company's position as the world’s leading supplier of specialty fats”, says Chairman of the Board Melker Schörling. “Arne Frank has successfully developed companies to reach strong market positions with high profitability in the international arena, and we are convinced that he is the right person to take over the management of AAK”, Melker Schörling continues.

“AAK is a very exciting company and active in a number of important areas for human nutrition and health. The management has done a fantastic job with the merger between Aarhus United A/S and Karlshamns AB. Now it is a great privilege and very interesting for me to be trusted with taking the company into the next phase, together with the management team”, says Arne Frank.

Jerker Hartwall came to Karlshamns AB as a new CEO in 2000, and since 2005 he has led the integration of Aarhus United and Karlshamns in the new group that was created with the merger of the two companies. “After 10 years, it is time for a change at the helm. We are all impressed by what Jerker Hartwall has achieved in AAK. The value has multiplied during those 10 years, and AAK has a very strong position in the world markets today”, Melker Schörling concludes.

“After ten years as the CEO of a listed company and an AAK with a strong potential for the future, I feel it is time for a new direction in my life. To me, Arne Frank is the perfect choice for the future of AAK”, says Jerker Hartwall.