Dear Children, family, friends, and not least Jutta. My warmest condolences and thoughts, regarding the sad and far to early demise of dear Jan.
My name is Troels Mathiesen, I had the great pleasure of meeting Jan in 2011, just before the troublesome years, of ESABs painful takeover by an American Private Equity Fund. Jan was a solid and professional Leader, a true business executive, with a long track history of successes.
The meeting led to Jan and me joining forces, taking over the Senior Sales Management of ESAB Europe. Much more important - to a solid friendship to the end of life and beyond. Jan and I became Brothers in Arms, sharing our deeply rooted Scandinavian Values, also in our Leadership of our respective teams, in a truly challenging time. Our bonds became so strong, that the Senior American Executive Management gave us the nicknames Big Brother and Little Brother, as they despite many attempts, where not able to drive a wedge between us, and our approach and respect to our people and responsibilities. As a small anecdote, all our internal communication was later on signed BB or LB, which passed on to all our private talks, SMSs and WhatsApp messages ever since.
We took a joint decision about leaving ESAB, when we felt that our enlistment and time had come.
Dear Jan, a gentleman and a gentle person, excellent humour, and always good for an advice. A pleasure to be with when the going gets though, or the sun is shining. A big heart in what ever you do. Always some funny messages and good mood, whenever Sweden or Denmark are heading for the same final in Soccer or Handball. Educated, knowledgeable, Cultured, interested in people, easy to talk with I could keep on adding nice words about you BB.
Jan was happy to share his experiences, also privately, talking about the important things in his life. The life with Jutta and all your tourist guiding in Lapland or Switzerland, visits or vacations with you or the children, latest a visit to London to his son. With friends Jan was not sparse to talk about the good life he had, he was rich on sharing the good things in life.
Let me to an end join Jutta in the beautiful Swedish song being present in the Danmarks højskolesangbog, often sung in my Childhood home:
Vem kan segla förutan vind, Vem kan ro utan åror?
Vem kan skiljas från vännen sin, utan at fälle tåror.
To the loving memory of Jan Nordlander my BB and brother in soul and values.
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