A defining period of study
Helle Østergaard Kristiansen, CEO of the energy trading company Danske Commodities, is this year’s Alum of the Year at Aarhus BSS. She graduated in 2006 with a Master of Science in Business Economics and Auditing from the former Aarhus School of Business.

She met her husband in the popular student bar, Klubben, at what was then called Aarhus School of Business (now part of Aarhus BSS at Aarhus University), and she had her first child a year into her Master's degree. Although she found out relatively quickly during her studies that auditing was not for her, the programme nevertheless laid the foundation for her later successful career.
Therefore, Helle Østergaard Kristiansen describes her time at Aarhus School of Business as "defining" for her later life and career.
“During my studies, I learned some good and important skills in management accounting, financial reporting, economics, tax law and business law. These professional skills and competencies have been a good foundation for my later career, and I’ve been able to apply them in all my jobs” says Helle Østergaard Kristiansen.
Just five weeks after giving birth to her first child, she chose to defy all the well-meaning advice to postpone her exam in financial reporting.
“I decided to take the exam, and I got 13 (highest grade until 2007, ed.). This helped convince me that I myself define what I can and cannot do. Not others. And I took that learning with me later,” she says.
From savings bank to energy trading
Helle Østergaard Kristiansen started in the banking sector as a controller at Den Jyske Sparekasse in Grindsted, and later she joined Sparekassen Østjylland before starting her upward career in 2010 at the energy trading company, Danske Commodities. Initially she was responsible for risk management at the company.
In 2015, she was appointed CFO by the company's then owner and founder, Henrik Lind. Two years later, in the same position, she would lead the sale of Danske Commodities to the Norwegian energy giant, Equinor. The sale was finalised in 2019, and Henrik Lind resigned as CEO and named Helle Østergaard Kristiansen as his successor. The new owners agreed to this after a lengthy hiring process.
AU and Danske Commodities
Danske Commodities is today among Denmark's ten largest companies in terms of revenue, and the company's collaboration with Aarhus University is crucial, stresses the CEO.
“Aarhus University plays a very important role in Danske Commodities. Far more than the size of the city warrants. Access to talent is crucial for the company, and without Aarhus University it would be hard to attract talent to the city – especially from abroad," explains Helle Østergaard Kristiansen and she backs up her point with some cold statistics: 20 per cent of the employees are students from Aarhus University, and the company's staff represents 37 different nationalities.
About Helle Østergaard Kristiansen
46 years old, born in Handest near Hobro
Married and mother of three children.
Graduated in 2006 with a Master of Science in Business Economics and Auditing from Aarhus School of Business (now Aarhus BSS)
2005: Den Jyske Sparekasse in Grindsted
2008: Sparekassen Østjylland
2010: Chief Risk Officer at Danske Commodities
2015: CFO at Danske Commodities
2019: CEO at Danske Commodities