Denmark’s ATP Names CEO

ATP, Denmark’s biggest pension fund, has hired Christian Hyldahl as its new CEO from Nordea Asset Management.

Hyldahl will assume his new role on January 1, the pension fund said in a statement. He succeeds Carsten Stendevad, who announced his departure in August.

“Christian Hyldahl is a skilled and respected finance professional and has in-depth knowledge of the financial sector,” said Jørgen Søndergaard, chairman of ATP’s board. “He is characterized as a leader of high integrity and great judgement.”

Hyldahl is currently CEO of Nordea Asset Management, a €189 billion ($206 billion) asset manager with offices throughout the Nordics and Northern Europe, and was previously the group’s CIO and head of investments. He has a master’s degree in mathematical statistics and operations research from the Technical University of Denmark.

“Our priority has been to recruit a new CEO who can head ATP at a time when all institutional investors are facing the challenge of creating returns on investments,” Søndergaard added.

“As the pensions provider for all of Denmark and administrator of social benefits for almost all Danes, ATP plays an important role in the Danish society,” Hyldahl said. “The responsibility of ATP has a huge impact on a lot of people’s lives. I look forward to becoming part of ATP and look forward very much to contributing to the work ahead.” 

ATP has also gained a new CIO this year, following the departure of Henrik Gade Jepsen to Danske Bank in June. Kaspar Arndt Lorenzen, previously head of liquid markets at the DKK 806 billion ($118 billion) pension, replaced him.

Related: ATP Loses Chief Executive & CIO Henrik Gade Jepsen Exits ATP