AAK Annual Report 2018

38 38 Chairman of the Board: Profitable growth through customer co-development and globalization My first year as Chairman of the Board for AAK has come to an end and it is a great pleasure for me to see that we are continuing our path of profitable growth. Although new to this AAK role, I have followed the company closely for a long time and I hope that my experience of profitable organic and acquisitive growth will be of great value to both AAK and its shareholders. Corporate governance For AAK to achieve profitable and sustainable growth and gain market share within its field are goals that characterize all discussions and decisions by the Board and all operations in the organization. But on our way to these goals, it is just as important that our decision-making processes and our division of respon- sibilities comply with relevant rules and regulations and with the company’s business principles. With this report we aim to illustrate our effective and clear corporate governance and show that we always work in the best interests of our shareholders. Continued investments During the past year AAK has, in close collaboration with its customers, continued to develop innovative and tailor-made vegetable oils solutions. With yet another year of strong financial performance, continued investments and strategic agreements in fast-growing markets, and with the opening of several new customer innovation centers throughout the world, the company has manifested its position as a leader within the world of speciality vegetable oils and fats. With a clear ambi- tion of further accelerating growth through an increased focus on mergers and acquisitions, I look upon the future of AAK with great excitement. Encouraging CSR work As sustainable and ethical considerations are critical for food manufacturers and consumers alike, it is very encouraging to see AAK’s broad and determined work within Corporate Social Responsibility. We have continuous progress within many different areas but one that has caught my attention in particular is AAK’s tremendous work in West Africa for a more sustainable and efficient shea supply chain. What started out as a project ten years ago is today an integrated and successful AAK program involving more than 130,000 shea-collecting women in Burkina Faso and Ghana. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank AAK’s very accomplished management team and dedicated and hard-working employees around the organization for their contributions during 2018. Your efforts and achievements have further strengthened AAK and put the company in a very good position for years to come. Georg Brunstam, Chairman of the Board