Viking rule of Arla UK comes to a sudden end

Danishman Thomas Pietrangeli will leave his position as UK MD of Arla UK in 10 days time to be replaced by Ash Amirahmadi, who has quickly risen through the Arla ranks since he joined the business in 2004 and is popular in many quarters.

This is a seismic move by Arla, who for more than 10 years have always had one of 3 Danish rulers heading up Arla’s UK operation.  Now it’s essentially a home grown non-Danish person heading up the UK operation which most will welcome.

Ash has certainly had a good grounding having worked on the farmer member, retail, trading and the commercial divisions of Arla.  There are certainly some big changes taking place at Arla and this one looks like a change in Danish attitude and perhaps the realisation that if a fourth Dane had been parachuted in to take charge of the UK, the business could have had a backlash to wrestle with.