Tom Lindblad appointed Managing Director of the Finnish subsidiary Cloetta Fazer Confectionery Ltd

Tom Lindblad (born 1968) has been appointed Managing Director of the Cloetta Fazer Group’s Finnish subsidiary Cloetta Fazer Confectionery Ltd with effect from 2 January 2007. He will succeed Jesper Åberg, who has been named Managing Director and CEO of Cloetta Fazer as of year-end 2006.

Tom Lindblad has worked for Fazer Confectionery and Cloetta Fazer in various sales functions since 1992. Since May 2006, he has served as Sales Director with responsibility for the Finnish sales organisation’s activities and results. In his future role as Managing Director of Cloetta Fazer Confectionery Ltd, he will lead operations in Finland, the Baltics, Central Europe and the CIS countries, and will also be a member of Cloetta Fazer’s Group Management Team.

“Jesper Åberg has done an excellent job in managing the Finnish subsidiary and our position in the market is strong. Competition in the confectionery market has grown increasingly tough in the past few years and I am very pleased that Cloetta Fazer Confectionery’s new Managing Director has been recruited internally. Tom Lindblad has in-depth knowledge of the company and industry,” says CEO Karsten Slotte.

Cloetta Fazer has a market share of 40 per cent in Finland, where the top-selling brands are Karl Fazer, Pantteri, Geisha, Ässät and Dumle. In recent years, the company has grown steadily in Finland despite stagnation in the total confectionery market. In a survey conducted during 2006 by the marketing magazine Markkinointi & Mainonta, Karl Fazer was voted Finland’s most appreciated brand.