CEO hunt over for Exsitec and Telenor – begins for Proact and Th1ng

The CEO hunt is now over for both Exsitec and Telenor, but for companies like Proact and Th1ng the process has just begun. It is a time of change and new opportunities for many companies, and here we present the latest recruitments that will shape the leadership in the coming year.

Exsitec has now found its new CEO

Niklas Ek will take over as CEO and MD of Exsitec. He replaces Johan Kallblad, who recently announced that he intends to step down as CEO. Niklas Oak starts in his new role no later than March 3rd, so until then, Johan Kallblad remain in their role.

Niklas Oak started at Exsitec in 2015 as a business systems consultant, and has served as business area manager for Exsitec since 2021 largest business area ERP SwedenHe has also completed Exsitec's trainee program and internal leadership program and has been part of Exsitec's management team.

– When I started at Exsitec, I did so with the ambition to learn and do my very best to continue growing in my role and become the very best I can be. It is with the same attitude that I will take on the work as head of Exsitec. We have a fantastic team that I will get to work with to continue to create great value for existing and new customers, says Niklas Ek about his upcoming role.

– I am very proud of what we have achieved together during my more than 14 years as CEO of Exsitec and I feel secure that our strong corporate culture will be carried forward by Niklas, who has proven himself over a long period of time as both a wise and proactive leader, says Johan Kallblad.

– I am pleased that, after a thorough evaluation process, we have been able to appoint an internal candidate to lead Exsitec. During his time at Exsitec, Niklas has delivered strong results and driven and developed our largest and most profitable business area. We are convinced that he will be an excellent CEO and MD with the capacity to further develop Exsitec, says Chairman of the Board Peter Viberg.

Proact's CEO leaves

Proacts CEO Jonas Hasselberg has informed the board that he will step down as CEO. The board has begun work to appoint a new CEO and has Jonas Hasselberg say he will remain in place to ensure a smooth transition and will remain in place until a replacement is appointed, or at the latest until June 16, when he will begin his new role. Which that will be remains to be seen.

During the almost seven years that Jonas Hasselberg has led the company, Proact has grown from an annual turnover of approximately SEK 3 billion to almost SEK 5 billion, and now has approximately 1,200 employees. Profit has also increased, by 70 percent, and not least, the cloud business has tripled, and recurring revenue is now approximately SEK 1.8 billion.

– It is with very mixed feelings that I have informed the board of my decision to leave my position as President and CEO of Proact"Proact is an outstanding company and I am proud of the privilege of having led and developed the company for almost seven years together with all the fantastic employees and the board. For me, it is a good time to hand over to a successor next year, while I now take the next step in my career with excitement and curiosity," says Jonas Hasselberg.

– The board and I have full respect and understanding for Jonas' decision to leave his position after leading the group for a number of successful years. I would like to express my and the board's great thanks to Jonas for his strong leadership, commitment and focus on results. Under Jonas' leadership, Proact has developed fantastically in terms of both results and operations, and we have taken great strides towards our long-term financial goals. We are therefore in a strong position to take Proact further on its growth journey, says Anna Söderblom, Chairman of the Board of Proact.

New CEO duo at Netlight

Since 2021, the consulting company has Netlight a CEO duo. Now there is a bit of rotation in that position as Felix Sprick steps down from his role as vice CEO to continue as a partner among partners. His role is being taken over by Anders Thall, who will form a CEO duo with the current CEO in the future. Katri Junna. Anders Thall is a partner and consultant based on Netlight's office in Stockholm.

The idea behind a CEO duo is that two leaders share responsibility. The model also provides a broader perspective, greater leadership skills, increased international experience and an equal sparring partner. The rotation principle is also a fundamental part, where the board, in collaboration with the partner group, appoints a new co-CEO every few years.

At the same time, Netlight has also strengthened its executive team with Djavad Hedayati, a partner based in Munich, joining the team. The changes will take effect at the end of the year.

– I am honored and very happy to step into the role of co-CEO. Netlight's commitment to innovation, collaboration and diversity is close to my heart. I look forward to working together with Katri Junna to build on the company's success, says Anders Thall.

– At Netlight, we grow through continuous renewal, which allows us to adapt, innovate and remain competitive in a changing world. Our CEO duo model reflects this perfectly. I am very pleased to welcome Anders Thall to the role and am convinced that our strengths complement each other well to lead Netlight forward, says Katri Junna.

– To serve as co-CEO at Netlight has been an amazing journey and a great honor. I strongly believe in the strength of our rotation model, which allows leaders to step in and out of the role smoothly and without prestige. This approach not only gives Anders Thall the opportunity to grow and succeed in his new role, but also gives me the opportunity to focus on driving Netlight forward as a partner, says Felix Sprick.

Chairman of the Board Erik Fröberg also comments on the new roles:

– Netlight has successfully navigated a challenging market, and I would like to extend a big thank you to Felix Sprick for his valuable contributions. We are delighted to welcome Anders Thall as our new co-CEO. We are confident that the combined leadership of Katri Junna and Anders Thall will enable Netlight to thrive and continue to grow in the ever-changing digital world. I am also delighted that Djavad Hedayati will join the executive team where he will take on greater responsibility.

New CEO for Telenor Sweden announced

At the end of November, Bjørn Ivar Moen announced that he was moving back home to Norway and leaving his position as CEO of Telenor Sweden after just over three years. Now it is clear who will replace him.

It will be Jonas Eden who will take over as CEO of Telenor Sweden from the beginning of the year. He has a long career within Telenor, most recently as head of Telenor Sweden's corporate operations. He has been with the company since 2012 and has also been involved in the rollout of mobile networks and has been part of Telenor Sweden's management team since 2019, first as Chief Technology Officer and most recently as Chief Marketing Officer for Telenor Enterprise.

– I am very happy and proud to take up the position of CEO of Telenor Sweden. Telenor is well positioned to continue to be relevant and create value for our customers. I look forward to continuing to drive our successful strategy together with all competent colleagues, he says.

– With extensive experience in Telenor Sweden From both the commercial and technical areas, Jonas has a deep understanding of the business and the market. He has demonstrated that he has a strong understanding of what is required to succeed in the Swedish and Nordic markets and has a clear vision for the future of the Swedish business. Telenor Sweden has embarked on an impressive transformation and growth journey in recent years, led by Bjørn Ivar Moen and his team. I am convinced that Jonas is the right leader to continue and accelerate this important customer-driven change, supported by a strong technology transformation that enables even better customer experiences in Sweden, says Jon Omund Revhaug, acting EVP and head of Nordics at Telenor Group.

Knowit strengthens with new Dataunit CEO

Knowit has been working for many years with customers such as the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and the defence industry. Now this investment is being further strengthened by recruiting Nina Larsson who will become CEO of the subsidiary Knowit DataunitShe most recently came from a role as Chief of Staff and Principal Consultant at the consulting company 4C Strategies, and also has a background as a member of parliament and began her career in the Armed Forces as an officer.

According to Knowit, the deteriorating security situation, Sweden's membership in NATO and an increased focus on defense within the EU, combined with rapid technological development, has increased the driving forces to further accelerate digitalization and modernize the various parts of total defense.

– I am very much looking forward to becoming part of Knowit and contributing with my experiences. In the role of head of operations in the subsidiary Datunit, I will have the opportunity to build on the strong trust that Knowit has as a supplier of high-performance solutions within communication, command and control systems for military and civil defense. The deteriorating security situation we see today will unfortunately be a fact for a long time. This makes the importance of secure communication solutions increasingly important, she says.

– Through our high technical expertise, Knowit has been able to contribute to increased robustness in various parts of society, and through our high-performance solutions, we have collaborated closely with the Swedish defense industry. Over the years, we have developed these collaborations where our expertise comes in handy in digital transformation, cybersecurity, but also organizational development, which greatly contributes to strengthening Sweden's resilience, says Per Wallentin, CEO of Knowit, welcoming his new CEO.

– We are now further strengthening our expertise by recruiting Nina Larsson, who complements Knowit with deep expertise and extensive experience as a leader and consultant in military and civil defense. With Nina in place, I look forward to building strong partnerships with important players in military and civil defense and at the same time creating growth in the sector for Knowit, says Per Wallentin, CEO of Knowit.  

Knowit Dataunit has been developed and operated under the leadership of CEO Mats Thorstenson, who has been CEO since 2008. He is now retiring.

– Mats has been an incredibly important person in building the strong position Knowit has today in the defense sector. Knowit Dataunit would not have been the successful company it is today without Mats' strong leadership and ability to build long-term business relationships. I would like to conclude by thanking Mats for all the years we have had a close and rewarding collaboration, says Per Wallentin.  

New IT Director at Foxway

Foxway strengthens its management team with Peter Stromberg, who steps in as the new CIO. His mission will be to lead Foxway's digital strategy and improve the company's digital capabilities and customer experiences.

Peter Strömberg has over 25 years of experience in the fintech, insurance and stock exchange industries. He has held various leadership roles, including CPTO and CIO at Avanza Bank, Head of IT Operations and Service Design at RSA and Vice President at Nasdaq OMX.

– I am happy to start on Foxway in the role of IT director"The company's commitment to digital innovation and customer-centric strategy aligns well with my values and goals. I look forward to working with the talented team at Foxway to drive our digital strategy forward and create even greater value for our customers," he says of the assignment that began on December 11.

– Peter's expertise and vision will be invaluable as we continue to create innovative solutions and expand our digital offerings and platforms. The recruitment underlines our ambition to drive digital transformation through sustainable technology and deliver value for our customers and partners, says CEO Patrick Hoijer.

Kyndryl appoints new chief operating officer

Michael Gottschalck is new COO for Kyndry. He most recently came from the role of delivery partner for a large Nordic customer. His focus going forward will be on creating a customer-centric culture. He will be based in Denmark and will also be part of the Nordic leadership team, and will also work closely with the management groups in each country.

– I am honored and look forward to taking on the responsibility of leading Kyndryl's operations in the Nordics. Kyndryl's commitment to innovation and quality aligns well with my professional values, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the company's success and supporting our customers in achieving their business goals, he says.

– We are pleased to welcome Michael as Chief Operating Officer to Kyndryl in the Nordics. His experience and leadership skills make him very well suited for the role as we continue to deliver high service and innovative solutions to our Nordic customers. I am confident that Michael will play an important role in developing our mission to design, build and manage the technical infrastructure and services that support some of the world's most important companies, says Beda Grahn, CEO of Kyndryl in the Nordics.

He takes over at Junglemap

Goran Govorcinovic is the new CEO at Junglemap, who works with cybersecurity training in Northern Europe. He has extensive experience in sales and business development from several SaaS companies and joined Junglemap as Sales Manager in September 2023. During his time there, he has worked closely with outgoing CEO Gustav Berghog.

– I would like to thank Gustav for all the fantastic work he has done over the past 3.5 years in transforming Junglemap into a professional organization. I am enthusiastic about this opportunity and look forward to continuing the successful work we have done together, says Goran Govorcinovic.

– I feel completely confident in handing over the leadership to Goran. His strategic vision, deep expertise in the SaaS industry and strong leadership skills make him the ideal person to guide Jungle map into the next phase. Goran has already shown his ability to drive growth and promote innovation, and I look forward to seeing how he continues to build on our achievements, says Gustav Berghog.

Zoran Covic, Chairman of the Board, comments on the CEO change:

– Goran has proven to be the perfect person to take on the leadership of Junglemap. He has a fundamental understanding of what it takes to build a successful SaaS company, and he has also gained a solid understanding of the potential of nanolearning in the area of cybersecurity awareness training.

Globalconnect secures new manager from Aeven

Soren Gjevert Petersen has been appointed head of Security Services at Globalconnect, which is a newly created role with responsibility for the company's security solutions for corporate customers. He has previously been the head of security for the company's operations in Denmark and Germany, but most recently came from the role as head of security at the consulting company Aeven.

In his new role, he will have overall responsibility for gathering and developing the group's security solutions and consulting, with the goal of strengthening protection for all. 30,000 corporate customers.

– I have a good insight into what is important for security managers at our customers because I have had the same role myself. I now bring that experience with me into my new position, both in advising customers and in ensuring that Globalconnect's portfolio of security solutions corresponds to both the threat landscape and the challenges they face in reality. Many large organizations are currently working to ensure that their IT infrastructure complies with the EU's new NIS 2 directive, and I have been deeply involved in that work myself in the past, says Søren Gjevert Petersen.

He takes over B3 Business Transformation

Peter Svenonius is the new CEO of B3 Business Transformation, who works with AI support and digital business development. He replaces Fredrik Dolléus, who will instead continue as business area manager and member of B3's group management.

B3 Business Transformation consists of approximately 50 consultants and is one of the largest specialist companies in B3 GroupThe business is conducted both through individual assignments and in teams, where collaboration with consultants from other specialist companies within the group is an important part. Among the customers are both large international companies and organizations in the public sector.

– We are seeing increased demand for our services, especially in helping customers identify and realize value through digitalization and generative AI. It is clear that our customers value our agile approach and our focus on creating participation and results, says Peter Svenonius, who started at B3 in 2022 when he joined from Knowit.

The change of CEO will formally take place at the turn of the year.

– Peter is a valued and experienced leader who I know will take the company forward to new successes. I wish Peter the best of luck in his new role and am happy to continue to be part of the group to support in new ways, says Fredrik Dolléus.

T.Loop hires CEO of Solkompaniet

Helena Fagraeus Lundström is the new CEO of the data center company T.Loop from January 15. She most recently comes from Solkompaniet, where she played a central role in the company's growth and development.

T.Loop's business model is based on enabling the use of 100 percent of the data center's residual heat to heat buildings or convert it into district heating, and making the data center's reserve capacity available to balance the power grid.

– It feels incredibly exciting to join a company that is in a phase where it is possible to both influence the company's development and also contribute to changing an entire industry. I look forward to working with the strong team at T.Loop to lead the transformation of data centers from being large energy consumers to creating system benefits. T.Loops business model enables data centers to be part of the sustainable energy system of the future, she says.

– We are very pleased to have recruited Helena, who comes with a broad experience from senior positions in business strategy and commercial issues. She also has a strong commitment to climate, sustainability and energy issues. She is exactly what we need in the exciting expansion phase that the company is in, says T.Loop's Chairman and co-founder Jonas Nyman.

T.Loop's co-founder and current CEO Staffan Stymne will instead focus on the company's strategic and technical development in his role as Vice President.

Implema cultural recruits

The business systems specialist Implement has recruited Marie-Louise Bondesson as the new head of People & Culture. She started on December 9th and most recently comes from Lernia and has solid experience in HR and organizational development from a number of different companies such as IP-Only, Casino Cosmopol, Onoff and Icon Medialab.

Implema describes the recruitment as part of an aggressive growth strategy, where Marie-Louise Bondesson's mission, among other things, will be to build Implema as the industry's most attractive workplace.

– I am excited to join Implema and contribute to the growth journey the company is on. The company already has a strong culture and an impressive focus on customer value. I look forward to working with the team to build on the positive development and continue to make Implema an even more attractive place to work, she says.

– We are extremely happy to receive Welcome Marie-Louise to Implema. She comes with important transformational skills and her expertise will be crucial to continue developing our corporate culture, attracting top talent and ensuring that we are the best place to work in the industry. HR has a key role in creating a sustainable and engaged organization that delivers real value to our customers, says Jörgen Aronsson, CEO at Implema.

CEO change at M-Files

M-Files, which works with automation of knowledge work, has appointed Jay Bhatt appointed new CEOHe has extensive experience in to lead and develop software companies, and has previously served as CEO of both private and public companies such as Alfresco Software, Blackboard and Progress Software. He also held a leadership role at Autodesk where he was responsible for the architecture, engineering services and construction business area.

The appointment follows the completion of a major ownership restructuring led by Haveli Investments and Bregal Milestone, two private equity firms focused on software and technology. Jay Bhatt also contributed to the transaction through his own investment firm, Crossparadigm Capital.

M-Files former CEO and founder, Antti Nivala, will move to the role of chief innovation officer. However, he will retain his role as chairman of the board.

– 20 years ago when we founded M-Files was the goal to help employees and companies work smarter. I am proud of the work we have done to enable our customers to make concrete progress towards that goal. Looking ahead to the next phase of growth, we are now in a strong position with the right team in place to capitalize on a large market potential,” says Antti Nivala.

– The ways we collect and use knowledge are evolving at an unprecedented pace. M-Files has "We are uniquely positioned to help organizations transform how they manage, access, and leverage their information. This boosts productivity and enables informed decisions. I would like to thank Antti and the team at M-Files for their hard work and dedication in building a market leader. I look forward to working with our new investors and management team to take M-Files to the next level," says Jay Bhatt.

Nexer is stinging about the CIO role

Mattias Liljenberg stepping in as new CIO at Nexer Group and thereby strengthens the company's management. He most recently comes from MQ and has previously worked at companies such as Volvo Cars and CGI, where he was responsible for everything from IT infrastructure and security to e-commerce and major change projects.

– I am attracted by Nexers forward-thinking and strong culture. There is a drive and a clear focus on results here that suits me perfectly. IT is not a stand-alone function but a central part of the business's success, and I look forward to continuing the digitalization journey and creating long-term solutions together with the Nexer team, he says.

One of his primary tasks will be to lead Nexer's strategic IT initiatives to build an efficient platform. He will also work with business-related IT to create increased customer value, as well as work towards closer integration and consistency between Nexer's various companies and support the overall goal of streamlining IT support across the entire group.

– We are facing an exciting development, where AI and digitalization will play an even greater role in the business. It will be crucial to ensure that our systems are future-proof and that we can deliver value through efficient and user-friendly solutions,” he says.

– We are very pleased to welcome Mattias to Nexer. His experience and commitment will be invaluable to our continued development and investment in digital solutions, and we look forward to continued strong growth and being able to meet future challenges and opportunities in tech and digitalization, says Nexer CEO Lars Kry.

Leading new business area at Two

Consulting company Two welcomes Björn Larsson Gerdén as new business area manager for Business Intelligence. He most recently came from a position as head of data and analytics. The business area dealing with BI and data analysis is described as an important role in Two's strategy going forward. Not least because AI is taking an increasingly larger place and the combination of business systems and BI is a foundation stone for Two.

– I am very much looking forward to being able to help lead Two forward together with my colleagues within BI, but also the entire Two Of course. And what a welcome I have received. It is easy to come in and become part of Two and if anything that shows a fantastic culture. It is noticeable that everyone who works at Two loves both heart and business. We are passionate about making things good for our customers, we are passionate about making us feel proud and we are passionate about and believe that happiness creates success, he says.

– We increase business intelligence among our customers, using ERP, BI and AI. That's why we always strive to be proactive and innovative in a rapidly changing market. It's incredibly fun that Björn has stepped in. He is a real rock, with very good experience of everything BI entails. He also has great technical expertise and good opportunities to continue building our great customer relationships, says Two's CEO Christofer Järlesjö.

QD is gearing up for customer satisfaction

QD Sweden strengthens its management team with the recruitment of Richard Simmons as new Head of Customer SuccessThis means that he will be tasked with establishing a new department that will ensure that QD “exceeds customer expectations.”

He took office on December 3 and most recently came from the role of unit manager for business development at PRVPrior to that, he has worked as business development manager and head of data-driven transformation at Folksam and head of business intelligence and process owner for customer service at Vattenfall.

– QD has a perfect balance between being big enough to be able to take advantage of the necessary economies of scale and small enough to be personal. All to be able to be an IT partner with the right size. The opportunity to find the solution that suits you, together, is incredibly satisfying, comments Richard Simmons.

– With his drive and commitment and his broad experience in customer- and business-oriented IT and information, he will contribute to developing our ability to meet our customers and partners. I am convinced that he will be a positive force in the management team and that he and his team will continue our journey where we always strive to exceed our customers' expectations, says Daniel Furmarker, CEO of QD Sweden.

The matter is clear for Th1ng's CEO

Th1ngs CEO Klas Westholm, who is also one of the company's founders, is now leaving his position. After the divestment of the broadband business in May, the company will streamline its operations. Based on these changes, the board of directors believes that a strengthening and renewal of the leadership is needed.

The Board of Directors has appointed the outgoing Chairman of the Board Tomas Karlsson as acting CEO, until a new CEO is in place. This also means that Elin Bergsten will become the new Chair of the BoardThe changes take effect immediately.

Thomas Karlsson has extensive experience from the municipal sector, the energy industry and the telecom industry, as well as from the Swedish export industry.

– I look forward to accelerating growth and taking advantage of the opportunities in the market together with our organization. Th1ng has a uniquely broad customer portfolio with great development potential, says Tomas Karlsson.

Elin Bergsten works as CFO at Skellefteå Kraft and has a solid background in the energy industry.

– I look forward to continuing the journey together with the company's competent staff and fantastic product into an exciting future full of opportunities, she says.

She takes over the Coromatics business area within Eon

Charlotte Reidhav is acting business area manager for Eon Energy Infrastructure as of December 1., and will also join Eon's Nordic management team. She succeeds Vijay Tank, who is moving on to a new role as COO of Eon Infrastructure Solutions UK.

Eon Energy Infrastructure is responsible for Eon's district heating and cogeneration operations in Malmö, Norrköping, Örebro and Stockholm, but also for the energy solution Eon ectogridTM, Eon's operations in Denmark and the subsidiary Coromatic.

– I take on my new assignment with both joy and humility. The industry is facing major challenges, while we know that it is absolutely necessary for Sweden to have a competitive and stable district heating and cogeneration business if we are to succeed in the energy transition. I look forward to taking on the challenges, together with my management team and all our knowledgeable employees, and in collaboration with customers and partners, driving the transition forward, says Charlotte Reidhav.

– With deep knowledge of both Eon’s operations and the industry at large, Charlotte has the qualifications required to lead Eon Energy Infrastructure. I warmly welcome her to her new role and to Eon in Nordic management team"At the same time, I would like to extend a big thank you to our current business area manager Vijay Tank for his significant contributions and wish him all the best in his new role," says Johan Mörnstam, CEO of Eon Sweden.

He leads Consid's new nest in Bohuslän

The consulting company Consider opened at the end of November its 38th Swedish office, in StenungsundThanks to the establishment, the company hopes to reach deeper into the Bohuslän business community.

– Stenungsund is a perfect place for us to grow. It is a strategic location along the west coast. We are close to larger cities such as Gothenburg, Uddevalla and Trollhättan, while we have excellent connections and access to the archipelago and the unique business climate that can be found in smaller towns around it. The area is also home to a number of innovative and prominent companies that make the region dynamic and full of opportunities. We look forward to contributing to local development and supporting companies in their digitalization journeys, says Daniel Eriksson, who is the incoming office manager in Stenungsund, and looks forward to collaborating with the company's Gothenburg office.

– We see, of course, Gothenburg office as an important partner in our establishment. By coordinating recruitment, sales and established customer relationships in the region, we can build on the strong presence we have in and around Gothenburg, while at the same time giving us the opportunity to work closer to our Bohuslän customers and partners through this establishment.