Mr Friis joined the company just over two years ago, taking on the difficult task of being responsible for pork production in Danish Crown – a division with revenue in excess of DKK30 billion.

"Two years is not a long time, and it is regrettable that we have arrived at this decision," said Group CEO, Kjeld Johannesen.

"Jesper Friis has introduced new ways of thinking to the group, and we had hoped that, with time, we would come to see eye to eye with respect to the complex management of the many different cultures in DC Pork, but we do not feel that this has happened," said Mr Johannesen.

He stressed that the reason for Mr Friis’s departure has nothing to do with the financial results he has achieved or any single events.

Initially, overall management responsibility will be transferred to Mrld Johannesen, while the day-to-day management will be handled by DC Pork’s extremely competent management staff.

"We will now look at the situation together with a number of highly qualified CEOs to decide the next step – both in the short and the long term," said Mr Johannesen.

Jesper Friis will be stepping down on 1 February but will be available in the coming period.