Erik Baekmark is retiring

19 May 2009

Erik did it.
Just because you’ve founded a company, nursed it into maturity, made sure it didn’t get complacent, ensured its ability to prosper - just because you managed all of that doesn’t mean that you did it.

The ultimate test of your skills is yet to come. Can your baby do without you? Worse: can you do without your (grown-up) baby? Getting the transition right is one of the toughest challenges for any company founder.

When insurance broking was still quite new in Denmark Erik Bækmark and his partner Mogens Kvist founded Bækmark & Kvist in the early summer of 1984. The company was initially located in Aalborg, but in 1994 space became tight and the company moved to Nørresundby, where it still is located today. Most of the company’s growth has been organic with the exception of the acquisition of Dansk Assurance Consult and Forsikringsmæglergruppen Nord. As the company grew pension and benefit consulting become a part of the business as well.

Today, after 25 years, the hand-over to a new generation is complete. Finn C. Pedersen, who is responsible for risk management and insurance has been with the company since 1992 and a partner since 1994. Together with Torben Jespersen, Employee Benefits and Bent Anker Christiansen (CEO) they represent the new management of Bækmark & Kvist.

“The generational change has been implemented with great respect for the continuity of the company and its traditions, “says Finn Pedersen. “The focus will continue to be on providing clients with professional and competent advice in every single case. The present group of employees will work hard to ensure the continued positive development.” Finn adds: “We are really looking forward to writing the next chapter in this great story together!”

And what about Erik the Viking?

He has done it. And we’ll miss him a lot. Everyone who knows him probably has a favorite ‘Erik story’ and we hope that Erik will still make some time for us to create a few new ones. Warmhearted, smart, funny, enthusiastic, full of ideas, thoughtful, scrupulously honest – he embodies qualities that we as an organization are proud of. We would feel ridiculous wishing him ‘Happy retirement’.

We do wish him one hell of a party!

Image: Erik Baekmark