Anders Eldrup has left his post as CEO of DONG Energy with immediate effect, the company says in a news release.

“Our strategy and investment programme is sustainable so our course will remain unchanged. We are continuing our ambitious goal of doubling revenues in 2015 compared to 2009,” says Board Chairman Fritz Schur.

The move comes a week after news that DONG – which made a profit of DKK2.9bn in 2011 – is to be investigated by the national auditors.

Auditor Chairman Peder Larsen (SocPpl) said last week that the investigation was not part of a routine scrutiny, adding that the national auditors had received information from sources with an ‘insight into what is really going on’.

“So it is important for us to find out whether DONG management’s decisions are sensible or whether there is too much extravagance,” Peder Larsen told Jyllands-Posten.

At the time, Anders Eldrup said the investigation was a normal event and that he looked forward to proposals for improvements from the national auditors.

DONG Energy Chief Financial Officer Carsten Krogsgaard Thomsen has been appointed interim CEO until a new chief executive officer has been found.