Esbjerg, 8. februar 2024 - I november 2023 blev vores pensionerede tidligere kollega gennem 40 år, Benny Otzen, den første TotalEnergies Danmark-medarbejder, der modtog Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje. Og samtidig med at han var den første medarbejder, der modtog den danske hæder, blev Benny også en af de sidste i Danmark til at komme i audiens hos den nu abdicerede Hendes Majestæt Dronning Margrethe II af Danmark, da han blev modtaget af den danske regent på Christiansborg Slot i København den 8. januar 2024.
Efter mere end 40 års loyal tjeneste gik Benny Otzen på pension i maj 2023. Den 20. november 2023 blev hans lange tjeneste anerkendt, da Managing Director i TotalEnergies, Eric Delattre, tildelte ham Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje - den medalje, der førte til, at Benny mødte Hendes Majestæt Dronning Margrethe II i audiens som en af de sidste under Danmarks længst siddende monarks 52-årige regeringstid.
Benny Otzen kom til virksomheden i 1981 som teknisk assistent i det, der dengang hed Dansk Boreselskab. Det blev senere til Maersk Oil, og da Benny Otzen gik på pension i maj 2023, var vi TotalEnergies. I løbet af de mere end 40 år har Benny arbejdet i forskellige stillinger inden for Contracts & Procurement – jobs, der har bragt ham fra Esbjerg til København over Qatar og så langt som til Angola og Kina. Med andre ord har Benny oplevet mere af virksomhedens rige og mangfoldige historie end de fleste.
For Benny var audiensen hos Hendes Majestæt kort før hendes abdikation en spændende oplevelse, understreger han.
"Under min samtale med Hendes Majestæt spurgte hun mig om min karriere, hvor jeg bor, og vi talte om de besøg, som Hendes Majestæt har aflagt i Oksbøl - min hjemby - og Esbjerg. Det var en ære at møde hende, ikke mindst set i lyset af, at det var den sidste audiens med hende, inden hun abdicerede," siger Benny Otzen.
Vi takker Benny Otzen for hans mangeårige dedikation, loyalitet og professionalisme fra Dansk Boreselskab til Maersk Oil, Total og nu TotalEnergies.
Hvad er Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje?
Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje er en dansk medalje indstiftet af Kong Christian IX. Medaljen bruges til at anerkende folk, der har arbejdet for den samme private arbejdsgiver i 50 år, eller til dem, der ikke længere er ansat, men har haft mindst 40 års loyal tjeneste. Det er under sidstnævnte kategori, at Benny Otzen tildeles medaljen.
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ENGLISH VERSION
40-year jubilarian Benny Otzen awarded the Royal Medal of Recompense
Esbjerg, 8 February 2024 – In November 2023, our retired former colleague throughout 40 years, Benny Otzen, became the first TotalEnergies Danmark employee to receive the Royal Medal of Recompense. And while being our first employee to receive the Danish honour, Benny also became one of the last in Denmark to have an audience with the now abdicated Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark when he was greeted by the Danish regent at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen on January 8, 2024.
After more than 40 years of loyal service, Benny Otzen retired in May 2023. On November 20, 2023, his long service was recognized when Managing Director Eric Delattre awarded him the Royal Medal of Recompense – the medal that led to Benny meeting Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II in an audience as one of the last during Denmark’s longest-serving monarch’s 52 years of reign.
Benny Otzen joined the Company in 1981 as a technical assistant in what was then known as Dansk Boreselskab. It later became Maersk Oil, and by the time Benny Otzen retired in May of 2023, we were TotalEnergies. During the more than 40 years, Benny worked in various positions within Contracts & Procurement – jobs that took him from Esbjerg to Copenhagen over Qatar and as far as Angola and China. In other words, Benny has witnessed more of the Company’s rich and diverse history than most.
Therefore, having the audience with Her Majesty shortly before her abdication was an exciting experience, Benny underlines.
“During my conversation with Her Majesty, she asked me about my career, where I live, and we talked about the visits that Her Majesty have done to Oksbøl – my hometown – and Esbjerg. It was an honour to meet her, not least in the light of that fact that it was the last audience with her before her abdication,” Benny Otzen says.
We thank Benny Otzen for his many years of dedication, loyalty and professionalism from Dansk Boreselskab to Maersk Oil, Total and now TotalEnergies.
What is the Royal Medal of Recompense?
The Royal Medal of Recompense (Danish: Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje) is a Danish medal established by King Christian IX. The medal is used to recognize people who have worked for the same private employer for 50 years, or for those who are no longer employed, but had at least 40 years of loyal service. It is under the latter category that Benny Otzen is awarded the medal.
