Changes in SEB’s Group Executive Committee

SEB has appointed Niina Äikäs, currently Head of Large Corporates Coverage at SEB Finland, as the new Head of SEB’s Baltic division. She succeeds Jonas Ahlström, who as previously communicated has been appointed Co-Head of SEB’s Large Corporates & Financial Institutions division. Furthermore, Ulrika Lilja, currently at Stora Enso, has been appointed Head of Group Marketing and Communication at SEB. She succeeds Karin Lepasoon, who has decided to leave the bank to take on a new role at Vattenfall.  

“I am very happy that Niina Äikäs has accepted the important task of leading the Baltic division. She has a proven track record from a career within SEB dating back to 2008 and has been very successful in her latest role as Head of Large Corporates Coverage in Finland. With Niina’s background from various roles within SEB and Citigroup Finland, I feel confident that the Baltic division is in the best of hands,” says Johan Torgeby, President and CEO of SEB.

As the new Head of the Baltic division, Niina Äikäs will also become a member of SEB’s Group Executive Committee. She will assume her new position no later than 1 September 2021.

“I am really looking forward to taking on the role and further build on the successful work Jonas Ahlström has done. Together with the team, I will continue to execute on the Baltic division’s growth and transformation agenda in close cooperation with our customers and to integrate sustainability into our operations,” says Niina Äikäs.

SEB’s Baltic division provides universal banking including advisory services to private individuals and all corporate customer segments in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The division has 65 branch offices and serves approximately 1 million private home bank customers and 98,000 home bank customers among small and medium-sized companies. As previously communicated, Jonas Ahlström, currently Head of SEB’s Baltic division, has been appointed Co-Head of SEB’s Large Corporates & Financial Institutions division.

Additionally, Ulrika Lilja, currently Executive Vice President Communications and Marketing at Stora Enso, will succeed Karin Lepasoon, SEB’s Head of Group Marketing and Communication. Ulrika Lilja will become a member of SEB’s Group Executive Committee and will assume her new position no later than November 2021. Karin Lepasoon will join Vattenfall in the role of Senior Vice President, Communications and Public and Regulatory Affairs.

“I am very pleased to welcome Ulrika Lilja. She has served on Stora Enso’s Group Leadership Team since 2014 and with a thorough knowledge of communications and marketing, she has successfully positioned the company as a leader in sustainable solutions,” says Johan Torgeby.

 “At the same time I want to thank Karin for the valuable contributions she has made by strengthening SEB’s brand and driving the work with a new strategy and purpose, and I wish her the best of luck in her new role,” says Johan Torgeby.

Prior to Stora Enso, Ulrika Lilja has broad experience from leading communication roles at SSAB, OMX Stockholm Stock Exchange and Neonet. At SEB, she will play a major role in the drive to strengthen the SEB brand and further develop marketing and communication activities, not the least within sustainability. Other focus areas will be the bank’s long-term relationships with customers, shareholders, as well as employees.

For further information, contact:
Henrik Westman, Acting Head of Corporate Communication
+46 70 763 5134   
henrik.x.westman@seb.se

Press contact:
Niklas Magnusson, Group Press Officer
+46 70 763 8243
niklas.x.magnusson@seb.se

SEB is a leading northern European financial services group with a strong belief that entrepreneurial minds and innovative companies are key in creating a better world. SEB takes a long-term perspective and supports its customers in good times and bad. In Sweden and the Baltic countries, SEB offers financial advice and a wide range of financial services. In Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom, the bank's operations have a strong focus on corporate and investment banking based on a full-service offering to corporate and institutional clients. The international nature of SEB's business is reflected in its presence in some 20 countries worldwide. At 31 March 2021, the Group's total assets amounted to SEK 3,443bn while its assets under management totalled SEK 2,243bn. The Group has around 15,500 employees Read more about SEB at https://www.sebgroup.com