Change in leadership of Haldex – Helene Svahn, board member and Professor from KTH Royal Institute of Technology new CEO
The board has decided on a change of CEO for Haldex. Helene Svahn, board member of Haldex, professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and currently Head of Research and Innovation at Permobil will assume the role as CEO of Haldex after Åke Bengtsson, who has been CEO since the 2017 bidding process with Knorr-Bremse.
“The board would like to extend their appreciation to Åke for the work he has done, in particular with the tough task of steering the company through the turbulent bidding process of 2017”, says chairman of the board Jörgen Durban. “However, as the company is now accelerating, both in regards to new technology and the current core business, there is a need for a new kind of leadership.”
The commercial vehicle industry is going through an extensive technology shift, where focus on self-driving vehicles and electrification puts new requirements on the suppliers within the industry. The board of Haldex therefore decided already in 2018 on a partially new strategic direction, which aims to, among other things, increase the innovation pace and investments made on digital solutions and new technology. In addition, Haldex needs to become more efficient in order to reach the previously set revenue goals.
“When it comes to technical solutions we are well positioned and especially within electromechanical brakes. However, we need to make our core business more efficient, in order for us to gain further credibility when it comes to our innovations. We are set on becoming a top-of-mind partner for industry leaders and therefore it is necessary that we increase our focus on new technology while also increasing the margins of our pre-existing business”, says Jörgen Durban.
The board has therefore recruited Helene Svahn as new CEO. She will commence immediately, but enter the position fully on the 12th of August. In the interim period, Deputy CEO, Staffan Olsson, will run the daily operations.
Helene Svahn is an experienced scholar and entrepreneur. She has been a board member of Haldex and chairman of the technical committee since 2018. Already at the age of 34 she was announced professor at the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, within the field of nanobiotechnology. During the past couple of years, she has divided her time between KTH and the position as Head of Research and Innovation at Permobil, being a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences as well as board appointments in, among others, the Nobel Center Foundation.
“Haldex was founded in 1887 and has a successful history. I am convinced that there is more to give and therefore look forward to adding to the existing business. With that said, we have a previously set revenue goal at a 10 % margin and in order for it to be achieved, the company needs to become more efficient”, says Helene Svahn.
Helene Svahn herself thinks her thriving passion for technology and experience in managing high performing international teams will be helpful for developing the company in line with the new strategic direction. In addition, as she has an extensive network within the automotive industry, which will be useful on the changing market where partnerships increase in importance.
“I see the shift that the industry is facing, leaving a client-supplier relationship for one that relies on collaboration, in a positive light. Haldex has an opportunity to take a larger share on the market through initiating and launching new collaborations. I started working towards this already as a member of the board and I am looking forward to accelerate the pace going forward as CEO”, says Helene Svahn.
For further information visit http://corporate.haldex.com or contact:
Jörgen Durban, chairman of the board, +46 418 476163
Helene Svahn, President & CEO, +46 418 476163
Catharina Paulcén, SVP Corporate Communications, catharina.paulcen@haldex.com or +46 418-476157
Haldex AB (publ) is required to publish the above information under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication by the Haldex media contact stated in the release on June 3, 2019 at 9.40 CEST.
The interim report is essentially a translation of Swedish language original thereof. In the event of any discrepancies between this translation and the original Swedish document the latter shall be deemed correct.
About Haldex
With more than 100 years of intensely focused innovation, Haldex holds unrivaled expertise in brake systems and air suspension systems for heavy trucks, trailers and buses. We live and breathe our business delivering robust, technically superior solutions born from deep insight into our customers’ reality. By concentrating on our core competencies and following our strengths and passions, we combine both the operating speed and flexibility required by the market. Collaborative innovation is not only the essence of our products – it is also our philosophy. Our 2,300 employees, spread on four continents, are constantly challenging the conventional and strive to ensure that the products we deliver create unique value for our customers and all end-users. We are listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm Stock Exchange and have net sales of approximately 5 billion SEK.
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