Alternative technology and consumer specialist Håkan Samuelsson as CEO of Volvo Cars – Global Fleet
Volvo Cars (NASDAQ: VOLVF) will have a new chief executive officer and president, effective March 21, 2022.
From that day on, Jim Rowan took over as global leadership of Geely-owned Volvo, succeeding retired Håkan Samuelsson, who first joined Volvo Cars as a board member in 2010 and has held the role of CEO and President since October 2012.
Volvo says its search for a new CEO must demonstrate a strong background in software, digital transformation and innovative consumer products: Rowan certainly meets that requirement.
With more than three decades of global experience in consumer and technology, Rowan has worked extensively in digitalisation, disruption, innovation, engineering and supply chain.
A sparkling CV that includes working with Ember Technology – a manufacturer of heat-controlled dishes – as an investor, board member and CEO from February 2021. He also served as CEO of the technology company Dyson Group is based in Singapore from 2017 to 2020, and COO from 2012 to 2017, accelerating the company’s e-commerce strategy, launching new innovative products and increasing global market share .
Before Dyson, he was the CEO of the mobile phone and cybersecurity company BlackBerry. He is currently a senior advisor to the global investment firm KKR and a member of the Shareholders’ Committee of Henkel AG, a German consumer goods and technology company with worldwide operations.
Eric Li, chairman of the board of directors of Volvo Cars, commented:
“Volvo Cars is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, which is why we wanted to bring in someone with global CEO experience from outside the auto industry. Jim is the right man to drive this forward. propel Volvo Cars into the future – making it the fastest transformer car in its field and an all-electric company with millions of direct consumer relationships.”
Li added: “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Håkan Samuelsson for his commitment and determination over the past 10 years at Volvo Cars. Håkan has created a product line with his management team. new and powerful product, re-establishing Volvo as a premium brand that is well positioned for the future and has helped to successfully get Volvo Cars listed.”
Håkan Samuelsson will keep his role until Jim Rowan starts in March, at which point he will also leave the Volvo Car AB board. Samuelsson will continue as chairman of Polestar Automotive Holding UK Ltd to see it pass its tentative listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
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Originally posted on Global Fleet Management
