Viegand Maagøe opens Brussels office

· Data and analysis, Policy and regulation

With a new office in Brussels, Viegand Maagøe is moving even closer to important decision-making processes and the EU system. The first employee to take advantage of it is an expert in ecodesign and sustainable products.

On May 22, Viegand Maagøe opened an office in Brussels to get even closer to EU legislators.

With the new office, Viegand Maagøe will be better equipped to build networks and solve tasks for the EU institutions.

Mette Rames, Head of Sustainability at Viegand Maagøe, explains: “It is the EU that drives much of the work that companies today have to deal with when it comes to climate, environment and social conditions. A large number of our colleagues today already have a lot of experience working with and through the EU, but it is also there that it is important for us to stay sharp and follow the development. We can only do that by getting really close.”

Michael Scholand, a specialist in ecodesign and sustainable products, is the first Viegand Maagøe employee to be given an office space in Brussels, but more are expected to follow in 2024-25.

Pernille Yding Fredslund is a new partner at Viegand Maagøe

· Communication and change management
Ny partner i Viegand Maagøe

She is the head of Viegand Maagøe’s digital team and, as part of the partner group, will help strengthen efforts in the digital field.

Pernille Yding Fredslund has become a partner at Viegand Maagøe. She heads the digital department, which she has led since its establishment in 2022.

“I’m honoured by the trust placed in me becoming a partner in a company with a strong purpose and which is rapidly evolving and at the forefront in terms of consulting and green transition,” she says.

CEO and partner Søren Eriksen sees the addition of Pernille Yding Fredslund as a natural expansion of the partner group.

“Pernille brings a digital agenda that is crucial to our company’s strategy in the coming years, and she and her team have already demonstrated the immense potential in this area. She has rapidly developed our digital efforts and significantly strengthened our competencies in the field. This enhances both our business and our ability to solve even more types of tasks for private and public clients,” he says.

Digital Interdisciplinary Work

Since 2006, Viegand Maagøe has handled digitalization projects for clients at home and abroad, but the effort was truly streamlined with the establishment of the digital department, which today both drives and contributes to a wide range of interdisciplinary projects.

For Pernille Yding Fredslund, it is a clear picture that digital solutions have the potential to be the strongest accelerator for the green transition.

“Digitalization supports and streamlines our work in many ways. User-friendly tools allow us to disseminate knowledge and expertise with fewer resources and help even more people engage in active climate action. Technology helps us gain an overview of large amounts of data and identify patterns that would otherwise require significant effort to detect. This allows us to qualify our insights and advice and help streamline the green transition,” she says.

Pernille Yding Fredslund has been with Viegand Maagøe twice. Her first employment was in 2011-2012, and she returned in 2022 after a period of employment in other companies.

Read the profile: Pernille stepped into her childhood in Zambia, loves poetry, and was involved in developing Denmark’s first music streaming service

Viegand Maagøe Expands with Acquisition of Dutch Specialists

· Policy and regulation
VHK

After years of fruitful collaboration, we are pleased to announce the acquisition of VHK, a Dutch firm renowned for its technical expertise in eco-design and energy labelling. This strategic move enables us to tackle increasingly complex challenges.

VHK stands as a leading authority in Europe, offering technical advice on eco-design and energy labelling. Since its inception in 1993, VHK has been instrumental in supporting the European Commission and member states by providing in-depth analyses and groundwork for legislation and policy initiatives in eco-design and energy labelling, covering a range of products from light bulbs to expansive heating systems.

Søren Eriksen, CEO, says: “Our core expertise lies in facilitating the green transition. We aim to maximize our impact, and currently, the EU is spearheading the green agenda. Integrating VHK into Viegand Maagøe enhances our capacity to address a broader spectrum of tasks for both the EU and our diverse clientele, spanning Danish and international markets. This acquisition aligns with our goal to establish Viegand Maagøe as a premier Danish consultancy with a vast and varied portfolio across numerous countries.”

The EU places significant emphasis on eco-design and energy labelling, which are pivotal for realizing its ambitious objectives for a sustainable transition. Eco-design mandates environmentally friendly product designs, while energy labelling distinguishes products based on their energy efficiency, using an A-G scale.

Natural part of international expansion

Mette Rames, who leads our sustainability department, says: “This acquisition significantly bolsters our ability to navigate the intricacies of the EU’s product regulation landscape. VHK’s team is among the most skilled in Europe, possessing unparalleled expertise that strengthens our position and enables us to tackle complex, technical challenges for a wide array of clients, both private and public.”

VHK, with its main office in Delft and a dedicated branch in Brussels, is set to see an expansion in staff and capabilities, enhancing our service offerings to the EU’s institutions and beyond.

Having worked together on numerous EU framework contracts since 2005, Viegand Maagøe and VHK have developed a deep mutual understanding and respect. VHK will continue as a subsidiary under its own name.

Get more posts