Third generation takes over management of Fredericia
Fredericia, one of Denmark’s leading furniture design companies with a history dating back to 1911, begins a new chapter in its story with the appointment of Rasmus Graversen as the new CEO from 1 May 2024. Graversen is the third generation of the family-owned company, which produces and markets furniture designed by names such as Børge Mogensen, Hans J. Wegner, Cecilie Manz, Space Copenhagen, Barber Osgerby and more.
The management change has taken several years of planning. Chairman of the Board Niels Hermansen says:
“It has been crucial for the Graversen family and the board to ensure that Rasmus would be the obvious choice of CEO for the company. Rasmus has therefore held various roles in the company, most recently as CCO, working closely with CEO Kaja Møller. With Rasmus as the next CEO, we ensure continuity in the company and maintain our desire for continued focus on strength and profitable operations.”
Rasmus Graversen, 35, brings more than eight years of experience in the company to his new role, most recently as Commercial Director, CCO and Design Manager with responsibility for product and marketing. With an MSc in Economics from Copenhagen Business School and extensive qualifications in management from DI and Business Leadership from IMD in Switzerland, Rasmus highlights his time in the company as the most important apprenticeship so far:
“Fredericia has undergone major changes in recent years due to changing market conditions and major strategic initiatives, such as our acquisition and integration of Erik Jørgensen Møbelfabrik in 2020 and our transition to a B Corp company in 2023. It has been a great learning experience both from a business and organisational perspective. I am taking over a platform that I have helped build, and I truly believe in the potential of our company,” says Graversen.
The Graversen family has been associated with Fredericia since 1955, when Andreas Graversen began a collaboration with designer Børge Mogensen. The second generation, Thomas Graversen, took over in 1995. Thomas was CEO until 2015 when he appointed Kaja Møller to replace him, while he continued as creative director. With Rasmus Graversen as the new CEO, the owning family returns to the helm after 10 years of working with Kaja Møller:
“I’ve had an amazing 10 years at Fredericia. It has been a great pleasure to be able to build on the impressive foundation that the company represents. Thanks to my close collaboration first with Thomas Graversen and more recently with Rasmus Graversen, the foundation that has been laid can now be further developed with Rasmus as the new CEO,” says Møller.
Along with the announcement of the change of CEO, Fredericia also announces the appointment of British Nathan Beckwith as the new Commercial Director, CCO. Beckwith comes from a position as President & Representative Director for the furniture company Carl Hansen & Son’s company in Asia.
Graversen, Beckwith and CFO, Birthe Slot, will take over the executive management of the Danish design company, with headquarters in Fredericia, production facilities in Svendborg and showrooms in London, Oslo and Copenhagen. Concurrent with the management change, the current CEO, Kaja Møller, will join the board of directors of Fredericia as vice chairman.
