KIRKBI Climate Strengthens Leadership Team With Lars Villadsen and Emma Nehrenheim as It Plans DKK 10 Billion of New Climate Investments Over Five Years

KIRKBI Climate Strengthens Leadership Team With Lars Villadsen and Emma Nehrenheim as It Plans DKK 10 Billion of New Climate Investments Over Five Years

(IN BRIEF) KIRKBI Climate has appointed Lars Villadsen as CFO/COO and Emma Nehrenheim as Head of Energy Transition as the Kirk Kristiansen family-backed investment platform shifts from thematic investing toward active ownership and business building across energy transition, circular plastics and land sustainability. Established in 2025, KIRKBI Climate already manages a portfolio of more than DKK 10 billion and plans to invest another DKK 10 billion over the next five years in businesses capable of combining significant climate impact with sustainable long-term value creation. Villadsen, who joins on 1 December 2026, brings more than 20 years of experience across renewable energy, finance, operations and investing, including leadership roles at Aspenall Energies Services, Glentra Capital and Vestas. Nehrenheim, who joins on 1 November 2026, brings more than two decades of industrial and energy-transition experience from organisations including the European Battery Alliance, EIT InnoEnergy and Northvolt. CEO Anupam Bhargava said the appointments will strengthen the financial, operational and technical capabilities required for KIRKBI Climate to scale companies and implement its more active investment strategy.

(PRESS RELEASE) BILLUND, 4-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — KIRKBI Climate has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointments of Lars Villadsen as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and Emma Nehrenheim as Head of Energy Transition, supporting the company’s transition from a thematic investor into a more active owner and builder of climate-focused businesses.

Established in 2025 to consolidate the climate-related investments of the Kirk Kristiansen family, KIRKBI Climate is focusing its investment strategy on three principal areas: energy transition, circular plastics and land sustainability.

The organisation currently manages a portfolio valued at more than DKK 10 billion and plans to invest an additional DKK 10 billion over the next five years in businesses capable of delivering measurable climate impact alongside long-term financial value.

KIRKBI Climate moves toward active ownership and business building

The appointments form part of KIRKBI Climate’s broader strategy to move beyond thematic investment and take a more hands-on role in developing, scaling and operating companies.

The company intends to use long-term capital, operational expertise and active ownership to support businesses based on proven technologies as well as emerging solutions with the potential to address major climate challenges at scale.

Anupam Bhargava, CEO of KIRKBI Climate, said the organisation is evolving from an investor into a business builder, with greater emphasis on active ownership and supporting companies through their growth.

He said Villadsen and Nehrenheim bring the financial, operational and technical capabilities required to implement that strategy across KIRKBI Climate’s investment themes.

Lars Villadsen brings more than two decades of finance and energy experience

Lars Villadsen will join KIRKBI Climate as CFO/COO on 1 December 2026.

He brings more than 20 years of international experience spanning finance, operations, investments and company building within the energy transition sector.

Villadsen is currently CEO of Aspenall Energies Services, a US-based renewable energy developer and operator.

Before that, he co-founded Glentra Capital, where he served as CFO/COO and Operating Partner.

Earlier in his career, Villadsen spent 12 years at Vestas, including seven years as CFO for North America.

KIRKBI Climate expects his experience in financial management, operations and investment execution to support its increasingly active role in scaling climate businesses.

Emma Nehrenheim appointed to lead energy transition activities

Emma Nehrenheim will join KIRKBI Climate as Head of Energy Transition on 1 November 2026.

She has more than 20 years of experience across the energy transition and industrial sectors.

Nehrenheim currently serves as Managing Director of the European Battery Alliance and Strategic Leader for the Battery Portfolio at EIT InnoEnergy.

Previously, she spent eight years at Northvolt, holding several senior leadership positions.

These included founding and leading Northvolt Revolt, the company’s battery recycling initiative, and serving as President of the Materials Business Unit.

Her appointment strengthens KIRKBI Climate’s technical and strategic capabilities in energy transition industries, including areas connected to batteries, materials and industrial decarbonisation.

DKK 10 billion of additional capital planned for climate-focused businesses

KIRKBI Climate currently manages more than DKK 10 billion in climate-related investments.

Over the coming five years, the company intends to deploy an additional DKK 10 billion to build and scale companies addressing climate challenges.

Its investment strategy concentrates on businesses operating in energy transition, circular plastics and land sustainability.

KIRKBI Climate said it will prioritise established and proven technologies capable of being scaled commercially while continuing to evaluate emerging solutions that require patient, long-term capital.

The objective is to combine meaningful environmental impact with sustainable business development and enduring financial value.

Climate investment platform backed by Kirk Kristiansen family

KIRKBI Climate A/S is owned by KIRKBI A/S, the holding company of the LEGO Group and other businesses owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family.

The climate investment platform operates within KIRKBI’s wider purpose of helping to build a better future for children.

Through active investment and business building, KIRKBI Climate aims to contribute to solutions addressing global climate change while supporting companies capable of developing commercially scalable technologies and operating models.

The appointments of Villadsen and Nehrenheim are intended to provide additional leadership capacity as the organisation increases investment activity and expands its role in the companies it supports.

About KIRKBI Climate A/S
KIRKBI Climate is owned by KIRKBI A/S, the holding company of the LEGO Group and other companies owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family. With a purpose of building a better future for children, KIRKBI Climate addresses global climate change by building high-impact businesses focused on the energy transition, circular plastics, and land sustainability. KIRKBI Climate builds businesses based on proven and mature technologies, while also exploring and investing in emerging and promising solutions that require long-term capital to scale and make a meaningful impact on climate challenges.

Media Contact:

Carsten Birkeland Kjær
Communications Director, KIRKBI Climate
+45 4260 7765
carsten.birkeland.kjaer@kirkbi.com

SOURCE: KIRKBI