EY Award – One year later: Continuously drives success through growth, innovation and social responsibility
A year has now passed since Niels Aage Kjær and AVK Holding won the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. And now it is time to reflect on the significance of the award and on the year that has passed since we received the award. 31-10-2024
After winning the Danish EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Niels Aage Kjær and AVK Holding represented Denmark at the international final in Monaco in the summer of 2024.
The award has been of great importance to AVK, and we have experienced a lot of positive attention and recognition.
“It is a great recognition of Niels Aage Kjær's lifelong entrepreneurship. As the third generation, we are very proud of our father and what he achieved with his life's work – AVK. But the award is just as much a recognition of the many employees who have made a dedicated effort over the years and thus have a share in AVK's success,” says Pernille Kjær, Director Communication, Learning & Leadership, AVK Holding A/S.
In addition to the positive attention, the award has highlighted our ability to combine growth, innovation and social responsibility.
“The EY award has been a validation of our business model and family-owned structure that is based on a set of core values which have formed the basis of global success with a focus on innovation and responsibility. As a family-owned company, AVK has managed to maintain a long-term strategy, focusing on continuous growth and innovation, which goes hand in hand with values of responsibility and commitment to the local community,” says Jacob Kjær, Group Director, Advanced Manufacturing, AVK Holding A/S.
AVK's history, dating back to 1941, is proof of how a small, locally based company can grow globally without losing its core values. Under Niels Aage Kjær’s leadership AVK has grown from a machine shop with three employees to a global group of companies with more than 5,000 employees.
“I hope that my story and AVK's story can be a strong inspiration for other companies, as we are an example of how long-term investments in innovation and employees can create sustainable growth. I also hope that other smaller companies can see the value in holding on to their unique identity while exploring global markets,” says Niels Aage Kjær, Chairman of the AVK Holding Board and owner of AVK.
Being true to one's own values, believing in one's product, showing persistence and diligence, as well as the ability to build a skilled team, are precisely the qualities that have created success for AVK – and which hopefully will inspire other companies in Denmark.
Highlights from the last year
During the last year, we have continued to pursue new opportunities, embrace innovation, and drive positive change within the business. Here are just a few highlights from the year that has passed:
Growth and expansion
Since receiving the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2023, we have continued to grow and develop. We have made strategic acquisitions of two large companies in France and Spain, Bayard and Belgicast. These acquisitions have strengthened our position in the market and expanded our product portfolio considerably. Integration of these companies is going well, and we are already seeing positive results.
Change of management structure
In October 2023, Niels Aage Kjær stepped down from his role as CEO after 53 years to step up and take the role as Chairman of the AVK Holding Board.
The general management is now handled by Søren Kjær (CTO), Bo Johansen (COO) and Lars Kudsk (CFO). We have also established a Group Executive Board consisting of eight members, who has the overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the AVK Group.
These changes are a part of a planned generational change in the top management of the AVK Group.
Technological development
We have continued to invest in technological development and innovation. This includes optimizing and expanding the product range such as Smart Water solutions that help optimize water management and reduce water loss. We have also focused on integrating advanced technologies into our production processes to improve efficiency and quality. As a result, AVK International won the DIRA automation award 2024 for its fully automatic robot solution that has been designed in cooperation with AVK Holding (Production & Supply Chain Department).
Water loss and sustainability
Water scarcity is a global problem, and we are committed to providing solutions that can help solve this problem. Our products, such as intelligent irrigation systems and valves for responsible wastewater management, contribute to sustainable water management. We also work actively with ESG initiatives including certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which helps to reduce our CO2 footprint.
Overall, AVK has continued the successful journey of strong growth, innovation and a sustained focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility since receiving the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Reflecting on the past year, we are proud of the progress made and excited about the future ahead.
Congratulations to the new winners
Yesterday, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 in the Central Jutland region in Denmark was held at Ejner Hessel in Aarhus.
As a part of the award show, Pernille Kjær and Jacob Kjær participated in a fireside chat together with Jacob Lilholm, CEO, Formalize Aps who won the Start-up category last year. Here they talked about what the award has meant for AVK and about the year that has passed since receiving the award.
Congratulations to the regional EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 winner PanzerGlass as well as to the winners in the other categories.
When choosing this year's winner, the jury emphasized, among other things, that PanzerGlass has managed to become – and even more importantly; remain – the market leader in their field. Not just nationally, but also globally.
