Tony Rickardsson to join Swedish Match
Tony Rickardsson is appointed Area Manager Eastern Europe for Swedish Match Continental Europe as from 1st October 2009. Tony will succeed Åke Wiktorsson who has together with its partner’s built a solid foundation of our key brands in the Eastern European region over the past 15 years.
Tony Rickardsson will continue to work closely with Swedish Match’s partners and customers in Eastern Europe and represent the whole brand portfolio of Swedish Match International division.
The brands comprise market leading products such as Cricket and Feudor, high quality disposable lighters, Korona matches and fire related products, the leading Dominican premium cigar brand Macanudo and Salsa cigars among others.
Tony Rickardsson born 1970 is an international sportsman icon in speedway driving and car racing. He has an unsurpassed merit list with six individual world championship titles in speedway racing during the years 1994-2005 and three team world championship titles in the same discipline. Tony has true international experience from his racing career and in combination with his long standing partnership with Swedish Match; Tony is highly respected and appreciated for his winner instinct and thorough relationship with many partners and customers in Eastern Europe.
“We are delighted to have Tony on our team and are confident that with his winner mindset and compelling personality, Tony will continue to add value and grow this strategic area, representing good potential and high importance for our business”, says Håkan Söderberg COO and head of Continental Europe within Swedish Match International.
Tony Richardsson will complete his engagement in Porsche Carrera Cup as a team driver and owner of Rickardsson Racing during the season and start his new career in Swedish Match in October, 2009.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to start a new career outside my long engagement in speedway and car racing, says Tony Richardsson. I have had an excellent partnership with Swedish Match during several years of my racing career and built solid relationships with company representatives, partners and customers on an international basis. I am thrilled to join Swedish Match and contribute to further success of the company, but from the inside and with a fantastic product portfolio at hand”, ends Tony.
Tony Rickardsson will report to Håkan Söderberg and be based in Sweden.