After 17 years as an owner-led company, the time has come for the next step in the story that began with an ambitious goal of direct trade with farmers and delivering high quality to customers. That goal still holds, but now it’s time to accelerate the development of the organisation. As a result, from 1st September, Rebecca Vang will take over the role of CEO.

For the past year and a half, Chairperson Cees Kuypers has acted as CEO. He is now handing over the reins to Rebecca Vang and returning to his role as Chairperson, a position that one of the company’s three founders, Klaus Thomsen, held in the interim.

“We’ve taken our time with this transition because we know how extremely important this shift is. It’s been reassuring to have Cees Kuypers, who was already our Chairperson, step in during this period. It gave us the time we needed to be both meticulous and thorough in finding the right candidate,” says Klaus Thomsen.

“It was essential for us to find a new CEO who understands and respects our purpose-driven company and strong set of values. At the same time, we wanted someone with fresh ideas and ambitious perspectives for both the company and our employees. We aim to open even more coffee shops, increase wholesale and subscription sales, and continue to elevate the quality and experience for both guests in our coffee shops and customers on our webshop. If anything, we’re even more ambitious now than when we started,” Klaus Thomsen continues.

Coffee Collective was founded in 2007 with a vision of economically sustainable and direct trade with coffee farmers around the world. Seventeen years later, Coffee Collective operates 8 shops in Copenhagen and Aarhus, a bakery, roastery, wholesale operations in over 40 countries, as well as a webshop and subscription service. With a persistent focus on quality from bean to cup, the company is also B Corp certified.

The founders, Casper Engel Rasmussen, Klaus Thomsen, and Peter Dupont, are coffee experts right down to their core. The three owners will continue to hold key responsibilities within roasting, coffee purchasing, sustainability, and quality.

Peter Dupont has served as CEO of Coffee Collective for 16 years. Along with Klaus Thomsen and Casper Engel Rasmussen, Peter has made Coffee Collective a frontrunner in the industry when it comes to high quality and sustainability. Since 2018, Coffee Collective has been B Corp certified, a global certification for companies that meet ambitious standards for sustainability and social responsibility. The goal is to create greater economic equity for everyone in the supply chain, from coffee farmers to the end consumer.

Peter Dupont will continue his work with unwavering dedication, just as Casper Engel Rasmussen will remain responsible for roasting quality and will continue his daily work at the roastery on Godthåbsvej. Klaus Thomsen, as Head of Coffee Shop Quality, will ensure the quality, development, and innovation of coffee drinks in the shops, as well as maintaining the high skill level of the baristas.

With this leadership transition, Coffee Collective underscores the importance of also developing the company itself and its 150 employees.

“I have immense respect for everything the three founders have built over the past 17 years. Being able to give them the opportunity to fully focus on what they are among the best in the world at, while I concentrate on the managerial side of the task, is a huge privilege that I am truly looking forward to,” says Rebecca Vang.

As such, one of her first focuses will be employee development and recruitment, internal communication, and clearer positioning of Coffee Collective. Additionally, Coffee Collective will work to further build community and connection with its customers, which also includes coffee subscribers.

Rebecca Vang has spent the past 12 years as Director of Strategy and Organisation at Politiken. Among other responsibilities, she oversaw HR and administration, as well as the department responsible for all of Politiken’s events and partnerships.

With a background in communications, Rebecca has also worked as a communications advisor in agencies and NGOs prior to her time at Politiken. While this is a shift in industry, the approach to the task and purpose-driven work are familiar.

“A publication like Politiken can only thrive through collaboration, with mutual respect for all the different professions working hard every day on the publishing project. Coffee Collective operates under the same conditions. The employees’ dedication, expertise, and focus are crucial to the company’s success. Only through great ideas, strong craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of service has Coffee Collective become what it is today,” she says.

Cees Kuypers, who has been acting CEO for the past year, looks forward to passing the baton and continuing as Chairperson of the Board at Coffee Collective.

“Rebecca Vang brings a fresh perspective to the organisation, along with leadership qualities that align perfectly with our culture. Our mission and values are not changing at all. But we are positioning ourselves to continue developing our close and direct collaborations with farmers while also growing the company and creating great opportunities for its talented employees,” says Cees Kuypers.

In addition to Cees Kuypers, Coffee Collective’s Board of Directors consists of Klaus Thomsen (founder), Casper Engel Rasmussen (founder), Peter N. Dupont (founder), Rasmus Gamrath, and Mette Dyhr. Mette Dyhr is the former Director of Communications and Fundraising at WWF World Wildlife Fund, previous CEO of Social Foodies, and now a professional board member. Rasmus Gamrath is responsible for the operation of the coffee shops and has been with the company for 13 years, where he now also holds a small ownership stake.