Niels Aage Kjær and AVK represent Denmark at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year™ 2024
On 23 November 2023, entrepreneur Niels Aage Kjær and AVK Holding won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Denmark. Next week, Niels Aage Kjær and AVK represent Denmark in the world final in Monaco. 31-05-2024
The award is a great acknowledgement of Niels Aage Kjær’s entrepreneurship throughout 53 years as CEO of the AVK Group.
The jury’s reasoning as to why AVK Holding was appointed winner in the national competition:
The entire jury fell in love with the story of the family business that is not just an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year winner, but a winner on multiple parameters. They create nice and continuous growth, are profitable and highly innovative too. AVK Holding is not a particularly known company to the general public, but they are renowned in the industry and are recognised as one of the world leaders in their field.”
– Lars Fløe Nielsen, chairman of the Danish jury in EY Entrepreneur Of the Year.
He is backed by Søren Smedegaard Hvid, partner in EY and director for the competition:
”AVK Holding is doing well in the ESG area, and is in general saturated with strong values, good spirit and propriety. Also worth mentioning is their impressive international journey. The company is truly global and has been through many phases of internationalisation.”
Lifelong entrepreneur
Niels Aage is an entrepreneur for life. With dedication, he has transformed AVK from a small local machine shop with three employes into one of the world's leading manufacturers of valves for vital infrastructure within e.g. water supply, wastewater treatment, fire protection and irrigation employing 5000 people worldwide.
It has not always been easy, but he had the courage and the skills – at the same time he had a strong belief in his own ideas supported by a strong set of values which have always acted as guiding principles for AVK – quality, innovation, reliability, sustainability and customer service.
World final in Monaco
Next week, Niels Aage Kjær is going to Monaco to represent Denmark in the world final.
Class of 2024 finalists will represent 47 countries and territories from EY Entrepreneur of the Year — the only global program for entrepreneurs of its kind — and compete for the world title in Monaco.
”I am proud to represent Denmark in the world final. It means a lot to me personally and certainly to our employees as well,” Niels Aage Kjær says.
A diverse panel of independent judges will assess the achievements of these program winners against four criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact.
Whether Niels Aage Kjær and AVK Holding can win the world final in Monaco is up to the jury to decide. If that happens, it will be the first time that a Danish company achieves that title.
AVK Holding – New management structure
In October 2023 Niels Aage Kjær decided to retire from the Executive Director role, and to step up and take the role as Chairman of the AVK Holding Board.
The general management in AVK Holding is handled by Søren Kjær, CTO, Bo Johansen, COO and Lars Kudsk, CFO. At the same time, a Group Executive Board consisting of 8 members has been established with the overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the AVK Group.
When asked about the significance of the award for Niels Aage in light of his new roles, he says:
”Of course, I'm happy about that – it's a great recognition. It is also a recognition of the work that the rest of the organisation has done over many years. Hopefully, it can also be an inspiration to new leaders to keep going, keep innovating, and be open to opportunities in the future. I also hope that my story and AVK's story can inspire others – that with dedication, courage and hard work, and not least belief in oneself, in one's values, it is possible to create something that has a positive impact on the world.”
Update after the world final in Monaco
We have spent some amazing days in Monaco together with some of the world's leading entrepreneurs. Thank you, EY, for hosting this well planned and executed event.
We would like to congratulate Vellayan Subbiah from India as winner of the title as EY World Entrepreneur of the year 2024.
We are proud to have won the Danish EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and of representing Denmark in the world’s final.
The success of the AVK Group is based on staying true to our core values; Quality, Innovation, Reliability, Sustainability and Customer Service and we will continue to focus on our values in our work in the years ahead. We would also like to thank or dedicated employees, who has a big part of the success of AVK.
“I am very happy about being able to leave my role as CEO after more than 53 years with EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 in Denmark as is a great recognition of the work that I and the rest of the organisation has done over many years.
I hope that my story and AVK's story can help inspire others – that with dedication, courage, and hard work, and not least belief in oneself, in one's values, it is possible to achieve great things that can leave a positive imprint on the world.”
– Niels Aage Kjær
