Previously, I shared how Ib Kunøe alongside Jo Lunder were the principal architects behind the ingenious move – and courage – to merge TopNordic, Ementor and Atea.
I received information about this merger happening on a Sunday while I was at home. Having just integrated Martinsson and Atea, I felt a sense of ‘not again…’.
On Monday, I met the likeable Jo Lunder, then CEO of the acquiring Ementor, in Stockholm. I expressed my lack of enthusiasm to continue. Jo then revealed that he wanted me and no one else to take on the task, and he did so with great credibility. I told Jo that before deciding, I wanted to meet the major owner of the new company, the Danish businessman Ib Kunoe.
That Wednesday, I flew to Copenhagen. Ib personally picked me up at Kastrup and drove me in his red Ferrari to an office in Copenhagen.
I will never forget the conversation between Ib and me. We discussed the merger and all the challenges we had ahead of us. Ib looked at me and said, ‘Lars, never forget, “We are the ones who decide…”‘ For me, this was an incredibly appealing message – knowing that we, a few experienced and knowledgeable leaders, would have the chance to steer a large company based on personal accountability, free from bureaucracy and at a very high pace.
I thought, ‘Wow, this feels just like the wonderful sensation of running my own company but with much more financial muscle and opportunities to achieve something significant.’ I was so inspired by my meeting with Ib that I called my wife and said, ‘I’m flying home tonight so we can go out for dinner; I need to tell you about my meeting with Ib’…
So, instead of ‘more skiing and playing more piano,’ I embraced the task of contributing wholeheartedly and joyfully to creating this major IT infrastructure player (today named Atea for the whole group)
I want to extend a warm and heartfelt thanks to Ib Kunoe for the manner in which he supported Atea throughout this journey. Having a clear, committed, courageous, and reliable owner with a long-term commitment has been incredibly valuable.
The Value of Long-term Owners – A tribute to Ib Kunoe…
