Swedish forest industry group Södra is making several changes to its Group Senior Management, affecting the Södra Wood, Södra Cell, and Södra Skog business areas.
The move comes as the company seeks to address what it describes as a rapidly changing business environment and aims to enhance its operations and value chain.
Within Södra Cell, Marcus Åsgärde has been named head of strategy and technology.
In this role, Åsgärde is expected to bring technical and industrial-strategic expertise to the management team, supporting work on industrial structure, investments, product mix, and overall transformation.
He will collaborate closely with Catrin Gustavsson, president of Södra Cell, who continues to represent the business area in Group Senior Management.
At Södra Wood, Peter Karlsson will take over as president. Södra said he will be responsible for building on existing efforts in industrial consolidation, commercial development, and operational efficiency.
His task is to strengthen the company’s position as a sawmill operator in the Götaland region.
Kim Gunnarsson, the current head of Raw Material Supply, will assume the position of acting president of Södra Skog.
Södra said the focus in this area will be on further developing advisory and digital services for its members.
Södra president and CEO Lotta Lyrå said: “We have strong leaders and areas of expertise within Södra, and with the work ahead of us it is about putting together the team in the best possible way.
“Marcus Åsgärde brings technical and industrial-strategic specialist expertise within Södra Cell, Peter Karlsson brings experience and capacity for change within Södra Wood, and Kim Gunnarsson brings deep forestry knowledge and commercial know-how within Södra Skog. Together, they strengthen our ability to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Södra has also disclosed a new focus in its innovation strategy.
According to the company, future innovation efforts will be directed at projects that support its plan to create greater value from forest raw materials and better align with market needs.
As a result, the firm assessed that there is now excess capacity equivalent to nine positions, with union negotiations underway and notification issued to the Swedish Public Employment Service.
