Meet Hans Jakob Hessellund

‘If problems arise, the customer should be able to call and get help immediately. That's what SKIOLD wants’

Hans Jakob Hessellund was born and raised on a farm where the smell of soil and the sound of grunting pigs were part of everyday life.

‘We grew potatoes and had pigs,’ says Hans Jakob Hessellund about his childhood, which formed the basis for his interest in agriculture.

With a degree in market economics specialising in exports, his career took a turn in 1998 when he got a job at SKIOLD. Here he quickly became involved in the sale of a wide range of equipment.

‘I sold feeders, liquid feeders, dry feeders and ESF systems,’ he explains.

Initially, the focus was primarily on the export market, but Denmark soon became his main area of work.

‘I've mostly driven on Danish roads over the years, and today I'm responsible for sales of the products in Denmark and Norway,’ explains Hans Jakob Hessellund.

Fascination with technology drew him in

However, his time at SKIOLD has been divided into two periods. After the first five years, Hans Jakob Hessellund sought new challenges at Gråkjær Staldbyg, a company specialising in turnkey stable buildings.

‘Gråkjær was also a very exciting place, but I missed diving into the technology behind the products, because the technical part interests me a lot.’

That fascination with technology drew him in, and after three years at Gråkjær, he returned to SKIOLD in 2005.

Today, he is not only the link to customers but also involved in the technical side of SKIOLD's solutions.

‘It's exciting to be involved in making the right system for the farmer,’ says Hans Jakob Hessellund, and continues:

‘The challenge is that the systems are never exactly the same. What I like is that we have the best products. We're nerdy about what we do and constantly try to develop and be the best in the market.’

He emphasises the importance of tailoring solutions to the individual farmer.

‘Stables are different, and farmers' wishes are also different. And the choice of the number of feed mixes is important for the system we develop and install for the farmer. Should it be liquid feed or dry feed and so on.’

It's about more than price

When it comes to SKIOLD's strengths, Hans Jakob Hessellund is in no doubt.

‘The products. Technically, we are at the forefront of control systems, and we have strong and well-proven products. Not the cheapest, but the best.’

He values being able to sell quality, where the decision is not only about price in the short term. A concrete example emphasises this:

Hans Jakob Hessellund sold an electronic feeding system 25 years ago. The farmer who bought the system sold the farm and the feeding system to his son and a farm manager.

‘I hadn't actually visited them since, because the feeding system was running perfectly. A short while ago, they called me and told me that it's getting worn out, so they needed to look at something new. The farmer joked and said with a smile: ‘That was rubbish you sold me - it's already worn out’. It's great to come back 25 years later and say: ‘We've been very satisfied and will buy from you again’.’

It's clear that feed systems, among other things, are of great importance to Hans Jakob Hessellund.

‘The farmer has to deal with feed systems every day. It has to run, be reliable and easy to use. And if problems arise, the farmer must be able to call and get help immediately. That's what SKIOLD wants,’ says Hans Jakob Hessellund.

Facts about Hans Jakob Hessellund

- 54 years old.

- Married and has three adult daughters.

- Active in gymnastics, where he coaches a jumping team and does gymnastics himself.

- Plays trumpet in Viborg Bigband.

- Lives on an abandoned country estate near Skals, close to nature and surrounded by agriculture.