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WSA announces Søren Westh Lonning as new Group CFO

15 May 2020

Press release
Lynge, Denmark – May 15, 2020 – WS Audiology A/S today announces Søren Westh Lonning as its new Group CFO. He will take over from Henrik Skak Bender, who is leaving the Company for family reasons.

Søren Westh Lonning will join WS Audiology from Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, a leading and publicly traded global Bioscience company, where he has been Group CFO since 2015. He joined the company in 2007 and since then Chr. Hansen has developed significantly, including a tripling in revenue and a tenfold increase in value. Prior to Chr. Hansen, Søren worked with McKinsey and in a private equity company. He will be based in Lynge and report to Group CEO Eric Bernard.

Henrik Skak Bender has been with Widex since 2013 and has been the Group CFO for WS Audiology since 2019. He will leave his CFO position on May 31, 2020. Henrik will continue to serve as special advisor to the group CEO and Board of Directors.

An interim CFO has been appointed to bridge the gap between Henrik’s departure and Søren’s start this autumn, thus ensuring an uninterrupted running of the Finance function.

Marco Gadola, Chairman of the Board of Directors of WSA commented: “The Board is sad to see Henrik leave as he played a pivotal role in creating WS Audiology. We are pleased that he will continue to serve as special advisor to the Group CEO and Board of Directors. Henrik informed us early about his decision to leave the Company which has enabled a solid process to find his successor. In Søren Westh Lonning we have found a strong, highly regarded Group CFO for WS Audiology. The Board looks forward to working closely with him.”

Eric Bernard, CEO of WSA, commented: “Henrik has been instrumental during the WSA merger and a very valued member of my leadership team. I am sad to see him leave but understand and respect his choice. I want to thank him for his many contributions to the company, his leadership and his sharp mind and wish him the best of luck in his personal life and in the next steps in his career.”

Henrik Skak Bender, CFO of WSA, commented: “I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given in WSA, and I will certainly miss the many colleagues from the entire organization. It has been a very difficult decision for me to resign from my current role. Still, I firmly believe in putting my family first. I sincerely value the close collaboration I have had with Eric Bernard and the Board and am pleased that I will continue to support WS Audiology as special advisor.”

Contact information

Andrew Arnold

Director, Corporate Communications

tlf. +45 25 65 75 47

andrew.arnold@wsa.com