45th anniversary: “I would never have believed it”
On 22 June, Skjold Bruhn Mathiesen celebrates his 45th anniversary with Frode Laursen.
Skjold joined Frode Laursen when he was just 17 years old. He had just finished lower secondary school, and spent a year at business college before starting as a finance trainee.
“It was quite a change for me starting here at 17 as I was fairly shy and unsure of myself. But my colleagues were keen to teach me a thing or two, and even back then, you were quickly given responsibility,” explains Skjold.
When Skjold finished his traineeship, he was offered a permanent position. At the same time, there was strong support for further training, which he made good use of. Although there was a sort of unspoken agreement that he would probably stay for a few years, he never imagined that it would turn into almost an entire working life. But now – 45 years later – he is still part of the finance department.
“Even though I’ve been in the same place for many years, I’ve tried all sorts of different things. The progress has been enormous. The logistics centres made a big difference. We have acquired companies, launched new business areas and expanded abroad. These have been some really exciting challenges,” explains Skjold.
So, 45 years have now passed, and according to Skjold, there are two main reasons why he is still here:
“The work is interesting. I’ve always been given responsibility and been involved in many processes. But Frode means more than just work. I started out very young, and a large part of my life has unfolded here. Although you may not be quite as close to your colleagues as you used to be, personal relationships still matter a great deal. And it’s certainly nice being part of a success story underpinned by such strong values,” says Skjold.
In his spare time, Skjold pursues his keen interest in cars, which over the years has led to many wonderful trips, experiences and friendships.