The CEO's dilemma

When a source approaches and says she is ready to go all the way to expose the criminal upper and underworld in Denmark, Mads Brügger is thrown into a series of dilemmas about safety and journalistic integrity — but also reflections on why he is permanently camped in dilemma.

When it was reported that Coop would shut down Irma, there was an outcry among consumers and media alike. The then–CEO, Jan Larsen, did not want to carry out the closure. Irma’s former COO, Martin Brinch Jöhncke, took on that task. There were many dilemmas when the closure had to be executed: the employees had to be informed, and all staff needed to be guided through a process that would culminate in a dignified farewell to one of Denmark’s most beloved brands.

On March 2, 2024, the Conservative People’s Party is struck by a tragedy: Chairman Søren Pape Poulsen collapses during his speech at the party’s executive committee meeting in Vejen and dies from a brain haemorrhage, only 52 years old. The event throws Mona Juul into both shock and grief. And then into a major dilemma: Does she want to become the party’s new leader? And how does one take over the leadership of a party under such violent circumstances?

McDonald’s serves more meals to Danes than any other restaurant. With 220,000 visitors every day and over 80 million burgers sold annually, it is also the company with the highest beef consumption in the midst of a climate crisis. This was a dilemma that Mads Friis was determined to address.

The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the way we work, leading many employees to request regular work-from-home days. Yet data show that remote work can have several negative consequences, especially for women. This raises a dilemma: How can companies continue to offer the flexibility employees want without undermining women’s career prospects?

In February 2022, Russia invades Ukraine, triggering a surge in electricity prices and a full-blown energy crisis. The situation forced Clever to rethink its entire business model, and Casper Kirketerp-Møller, together with the company’s employees, had to terminate all customer contracts in order to regain control and lay the groundwork for the company’s future agreements with clients.

Christian Thor Larsen had always been expected to join the generational handover in his father’s company. So stepping away from an international career at a major global corporation to come home and join Otto International Scan-Thor Scandinavia, which specialises in global sourcing, seemed like a natural choice. But he soon discovered that the decision would bring far more complex dilemmas than he had ever imagined.

Gender equality remains a challenge in Danish workplace and far too little progress has been made. After a conversation with her daughter, it became clear to Karen Frøsig that bold action was needed. Although she had previously stayed out of the debate, she agreed to a major interview in 2021 that attracted widespread attention. In it, Karen Frøsig shares her reflections on why progress is too slow, why quotas on boards may be necessary, and how Sydbank has worked to drive change.