Better Collective has announced Jens Bager will not seek-re-election as chair at the affiliate’s AGM in March and will be stepping down after nearly a decade in the role.
Bager’s departure will also see him no longer serve on the Nasdaq-listed affiliate’s board.
Joining the board in 2016, he took on the position of chair a year later and played a key role in Better Collective’s IPO in 2018 and listing on Nasdaq Stockholm.
Bager’s tenure as chair also saw the company become dual listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and expand internationally.
Q4 2025 saw Better Collective post its highest ever quarter for profitability as “cost discipline” drive EBITDA up 10% year on year to €37m, despite a 2% drop in revenue to €94m.
Jesper Søgaard, Better Collective co-founder and co-CEO, described Bager as being “instrumental in shaping Better Collective into the company we are today”.
“From the early days of preparing for our IPO to navigating international expansion and building a professional governance framework, his guidance has been invaluable,” he said.
“On a personal level, Jens has been much more than a chair. He has been a trusted mentor and adviser who has challenged me, supported me and helped me grow as a leader.
“I am deeply grateful for his commitment, integrity and unwavering belief in our vision.”
Bager added: “It has been a privilege to serve as chair of Better Collective since 2017 and to witness the company’s remarkable transformation.
“Together with the founders, the board and the organisation, we have built a scalable, international business grounded in strong values and disciplined execution.
“I am proud of what we have achieved, from the IPO to the international expansion and continued professionalisation of the company.
“After nearly a decade as chair, I believe this is the right time to pass the baton.
“Better Collective stands on a solid foundation with a clear strategy and strong leadership, and I am confident that Better Collective is well positioned for its next phase of development under new board leadership.”
The group’s nomination and renumeration committee has proposed that Thomas Plenborg be elected to chair of the board, having become a member in 2025.
He is currently the chair of Danish transport and logistics company DSV, a publicly listed company.
Better Collective said of his nomination: “With extensive experience from listed companies on comparable growth trajectories, including the execution of large-scale M&A strategies and oversight of substantial shareholder value creation, Thomas Plenborg brings strong financial, governance and strategic capabilities to the role.
“The board considers him well positioned to support Better Collective in its next phase of strategic execution, integration discipline and long term value creation.”
Vice-chair Therese Hillmann is up for re-election. She first joined in 2021, as are the remaining members of the board.
The AGM is to be held on 24 March.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.
Have Your Say
Take our short customer survey on EGR’s content and data offering for the chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. It will take less than three minutes, with the findings used to inform our plans to improve the platform.
The post Better Collective chair to step down first appeared on EGR Intel.
Jens Bager has served in the role since 2017, with affiliate having gone public and scaled internationally during his tenure, as board member Thomas Plenborg proposed to replace him
The post Better Collective chair to step down first appeared on EGR Intel.