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Former LEGO exec takes top post at CM Aqua

Danish water treatment company, CM Aqua‘s latest chief executive officer came to the aquaculture sector from another Denmark company known for creating colourful plastic interlocking bricks. Mikael Denhardt, who was recently named CEO of CM Aqua, used to work for the famous toy company LEGO before he decided to build a career in aquaculture.

“We are glad to introduce Mikael Denhardt as our new CEO in CM Aqua,” said Asbjørn Reinkind, chairman of the board for CM Aqua. “We believe he can continue the well-established CM Aqua values of partnership, trust and be instrumental in reaching our increased company ambitions.”

CM Aqua offers a wide range water treatment and filtration products for the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) market. Kurt Carlsen, former CM Aqua CEO, “will remain with CM Aqua at full speed, going forward with full focus on sales and technical improvements,” according to a company press release.

Denhardt has a strong technical background and is educated BSc in Engineering.

“I believe RAS/Aquaculture has the potential to serve the growing global demand for protein sources, with a positive CO2 footprint,” said Denhardt. “With the newly launched Drumfilter HEX version X and RATZ Protein Skimmer, CM Aqua has the strong foundation to secure success of our customers, so I look very much forward to meeting both existing- and new customers.”

Before taking the CEO post at CM Aqua, Denhardt was head of projects At AKVA Group Landbase in 2021. He was responsible for the execution of  AKVA Group’s global engineering and building activities. During this period he has developed insights in aquaculture, according to a press release from CM Aqua.

Prior to that, Denhardt was project director at climate solutions firm Danfoss Cooling in 2014. He later became then senior director of business development responsible for sensors, digitalization, Internet of Things and connectivity for the same company until 2021.

Before joining Danfoss, Denhardt held multiple senior management positions at LEGO from 2002 to 2014. He worked in the areas of novelty product development, manufacturing, and lean implementation.