Olof Persson appointed new Volvo CEO

“During his time at Volvo Aero and Volvo Construction Equipment, Olof Persson has gained the right experience and demonstrated the characteristics that make him highly suited to take over as President of AB Volvo and CEO of the Volvo Group and replace Leif Johansson who has strategically transformed and grown the Volvo Group while maintaining the core values of the company,” says Louis Schweitzer, Chairman of the Volvo Board. 

“Naturally, it is both an honor and a challenge to be provided with the opportunity to lead Sweden’s largest company,” says Olof Persson. “Volvo is a company with tremendously knowledgeable and committed employees, with a unique culture and with many strong and exciting brands and I am truly looking forward to the task.”

The Board of Directors of AB Volvo has reviewed a large number of both internal and external candidates for some time with a view to identifying a replacement for Leif Johansson. Olof Persson was chosen due, among other factors, to his experience in managing large global organizations and to his successes as president of two of the Volvo Group’s subsidiaries.

“Olof Persson has performed remarkably well, first as President of Volvo Aero and then of Volvo Construction Equipment,” says Louis Schweitzer. “During his time at Volvo Construction Equipment in the midst of the financial crisis, he succeeded in restructuring the company and making it one of the most successful in its industry, in terms of both profitability and size – this was no small achievement.”

As of May 1, Olof Persson will become Executive Vice President of AB Volvo as well as Deputy CEO during the period until the end of August.
Olof Persson’s successor as President of Volvo Construction Equipment will be announced in the near future.

Olof Persson is a graduate economist and holds a BA from Karlstad University. He began his career at ABB and, among other assignments, held a number of executive positions at AdTranz and Bombardier. In conjunction with his appointment as President of Volvo Aero in 2006, he also became a member of Volvo’s Group Executive Committee.

Curriculum Vitae – Olof Persson

Born 1964
Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration
Member of Volvo Group Executive Committee since 2006
Married, three children
Resides since 2008 in Brussels, Belgium, where Volvo Construction Equipment has its head office

2008 – 2011 President, Volvo Construction Equipment
2006 – 2008 President, Volvo Aero
2004 – 2006 President, Mainline and Metros Division, Bombardier

March 16, 2011

Reporters who want more information, please contact Mårten Wikforss, +46 31 66 11 27 or +46 705 59 11 49.

Important information regarding press meeting:

Today at 10:00 a.m. CET a press meeting will be held at Berns Salonger in Stockholm, where, among others, Olof Persson and AB Volvo's Board Chairman Louis Schweitzer will be present. Journalists who are interested in participating, please contact Kina Wileke at +46 31 66 12 32 or +46 70 342 12 32. The press meeting will be broadcasted at http://www.volvogroup.com/