Reinforcement for international expansion
Handelsbanken's growth outside Sweden has increased significantly in the past few years. For this reason, a special position is being set up to support a continued high rate of expansion.
M Johan Widerberg, Executive Vice President and currently head of Handelsbanken's regional bank in Western Sweden, will gradually transfer to this new assignment during the next few months.
His work will include being a member of the boards of the regional banks in Great Britain and Finland, and Handelsbanken's operations in the Baltic countries and Russia. He will also be chairman of the board of Handelsbanken Capital Markets.
For the past eleven years, M Johan Widerberg has been head of one of Handelsbanken's largest regions: Western Sweden, with a total of 77 branches. Under his leadership, the regional bank has more than quadrupled its profits and total assets.
"Together with his successful branch managers, M Johan Widerberg has significantly advanced Handelsbanken's positions in the west of Sweden. He is also one of the most experienced bankers we have; he knows the Bank and how we work - so he was the obvious choice for this new position," says Pär Boman, CEO of Handelsbanken.
M Johan Widerberg has no plans to completely move away from Göteborg, the "capital" of western Sweden.
"No, this is where my roots are, and I will continue to live here. I also have many interesting board positions and other commitments in the business community in western Sweden and I believe I will be able to continue making a contribution in various ways," says Mr Widerberg.
He expects to be able to hand over as head of Handelsbanken's regional bank in Western Sweden at the end of the year.
For further information, please contact:
Pär Boman, group chief executive, tel: +46 8 22 92 20
M Johan Widerberg, head of Handelsbanken Western Sweden, tel:+46 31 77 48 000
Johan Lagerström, press officer, tel: +46 8 701 1395, mobile: +46 70 265 80 14