Singapore, October 30, 2025 — Henrik Bertelsen, Head of Business Information, Asia Pacific at Coface, has navigated a career that spans geographies. His journey reveals how leadership transforms when crossing borders—becoming attuned to culture, grounded in trust, and sharpened by strategy.
Lessons from Denmark to Japan: Leadership Across Borders
Henrik’s journey began in Denmark, where he absorbed the Nordic approach to leadership: flat hierarchies, trust-based management, and a commitment to transparency. “Being in the Nordic region really taught me the importance of transparency in your business, operating with flat hierarchies, and having a trust-based leadership style,” he recalled.
Yet Japan, where he is now based, offered an entirely different lesson. The cultural weight of formality, respect, and patience continues to shape his approach: “Japan continues to be a master class in patience and long-term relationship building.” In China, the sheer scale and pace of change demanded adaptability and foresight: “Within such a diverse and complex market, you need to balance ambition with pragmatism.”
Henrik now leads across Asia Pacific, balancing the needs of markets as distinct as Singapore, Korea, India, and Australia. His leadership is about inclusivity and shared vision: “We work really, really hard to build a regional strategy that at the same time empowers local teams with flexibility.”
From Sales Instincts to Ecosystem Thinking
Henrik’s career has always carried a commercial edge. “I still rely a lot on those sales instincts—understanding what the clients need and identifying opportunities,” he said. But at Coface, his responsibilities stretch beyond deal-making. Business information is data-driven, analytical, and deeply strategic.
As Henrik explained, the shift has been profound: “You can say that it’s a shift from selling products to building ecosystems instead.” Today, he focuses on building scalable solutions in collaboration with product, tech, and operational teams for Coface’s clients. This balance of commercial instinct and analytical rigour is what keeps his role dynamic and impactful.
The CFO as Strategic Navigator
CFOs across Asia Pacific are undergoing a transformation, from “guardians of numbers” to “navigators of change”. Henrik sees business information as central to this shift:
“With this fast pace and what’s going on in the world, you cannot be all over the place all the time. You really need a partner that can help make sure that you understand the local markets.”
800 people globally work solely in Coface’s business information department. In APAC, the number stands at about 45 and is growing, Coface transforms raw data into accessible insights for CFOs, helping clients evaluate customers, assess acquisitions and counterparties, or anticipate supply chain disruptions. Business intelligence serves as both a shield and a compass.
Balancing Risk and Growth in Asia
Asia is often described as the land of opportunity, but Henrik is quick to point out that the risks are as real as the potential. “It’s a very dynamic hub that has a lot of tempting investment and expansion opportunities, but it’s also highly fragmented,” he said.
Coface addresses this through platforms like Urba360, which gives CFOs and decision-makers a holistic view of markets across Asia. The methodology underpinning Urba360 mirrors Coface’s trade credit insurance expertise, where balancing risk and growth is the daily business. “It should enable much faster decisions,” Henrik explained, whether for supply chain expansion or acquisitions.
Turning Information into Behavioural Change
Even the best strategies falter if they remain on paper. Henrik emphasises that real transformation comes from clarity and communication: “It’s not just about numbers and laying out a strategy. It is really how you articulate that strategy and explain why it matters.”
Coface enables organisations to make global decisions actionable by implementing consistent score across their data. “A score of eight for a company in Vietnam means the same as a score of eight in Japan or Australia,” Henrik noted. This common language helps finance leaders translate complex risk data into decisions that resonate across teams.
Data Transparency: Europe vs. Asia
Having worked across Europe and Asia, Henrik has seen stark contrasts in attitudes toward data transparency. “In Europe, data is becoming more and more of a commodity. Whereas in Asia Pacific, it varies a lot depending on what country you’re in,” he said.
For CFOs, this disparity means that accessible insights are not guaranteed in every jurisdiction. Yet Coface’s unique position as a trade credit insurer provides proprietary data that others cannot easily obtain. Henrik put it: “We underwrite more than $700 billion worth of risk premiums all over the world. We use the same information that we sell to underwrite and monitor that risk. So in that way, we have got skin in the game.”
Through these experiences, Henrik has not only gained a deep understanding of how information drives business resilience but also developed a clear perspective on what effective leadership looks like in today’s complex financial landscape. His global journey from Denmark’s collaborative work culture to Asia’s dynamic markets, has shaped how he mentors the next generation of finance leaders. It’s this combination of data-driven insight and human understanding that informs his advice for CFOs and aspiring professionals alike.
Advice for CFOs and Future Leaders
For young professionals, Henrik’s guidance is straightforward: “Don’t expect everything to go according to plan. Have a very open mindset towards change, and make sure you learn how to communicate, not only through a screen but also with people.”
For CFOs, the advice is equally clear: “Be proactive in shaping the future. Use data-driven insights—engage with your commercial teams, be part of growth conversations, and embrace technology.”
Stay Connected with Henrik
Henrik Bertelsen’s perspective blends leadership lessons from Denmark, Japan, and China with the practical realities of data-driven finance in Asia Pacific. His journey underscores a simple truth: in an uncertain world, clarity, communication, and adaptability are the real currencies of leadership. Connect with Henrik on LinkedIn to continue learning from his insights.
