Group management team

Keeping all parts of our business running smoothly and working together requires a management team that works across countries and sectors, and one that is strongly connected to our mission.

We asked our management team to share cultural locations and literature that mean something to them personally, and this is what they had to say.

Group Management Team

Maria Wasing

COO & Executive Vice President

"I collect reading experiences and maintain my “must read bucket list”. Starting a new book is like entering into a new world for me. Every experience is different: from fun, seeing another viewpoint and opening new perspectives which leaves you thinking to utter sadness. One of the experiences I remember the strongest is Imre Kertész novel "Fatelessness", which I warmly recommend! I also gladly welcome your recommendations!"

Andreas Ekberg

EVP & Chief Financial Officer

"I saw Hilma af Klint's paintings for the first time at the fantastic Guggenheim Museum in New York and was completely taken by her powerful, abstract art. Her work is a treasure that was hidden for decades but has since rewritten history as we now know she was a predecessor to Kandinsky."

Henrik Béen

Chief Product Officer

"I must admit that I am something of a history buff. I simply love going to museums and being absorbed by our common heritage. One of my latest experiences was visiting the Imperial War Museum in London, which is an absolute favorite. My family literally had to drag me out. Like many people, my reading comes in waves. And when it does, the feeling of being totally consumed by a story is priceless. Last time this happened, it was Albert Camus’ “The Stranger” that gave me that feeling."

Sebastian Svärdebrandt

Chief Information Officer

Group Teams

Joel Sommerfeldt

President & CEO

"My favourite book is "Bland Franska Bönder” av August Strindberg (1849-1912). It's hard to pick one or two of my favourite places but; Guggenheim Museum in NY of course and I love to visit the small medieval towns of Cilento, Campania with a 2000+ year history preserved in the buildings, streets and stories."

Gustaf Mellberg

Director of Global Marketing

"Ayant grandi dans la province de Dalarna, j'ai toujours ressenti un lien fort avec les artistes Carl Larsson et Karin Larsson. La visite de la maison du couple et du projet artistique commun, aujourd'hui transformé en musée, dans le village idyllique de Sundborn, est une expérience à la croisée des chemins entre l'art, la décoration intérieure et les traditions suédoises."

Elisabet Thylander

Head of Finance and Administration

"'The Diary of a Young Girl' moved me deeply when I read it, at about the same age as Anne Frank was when she started to write her diary. It's a book I will always remember and I think it is a topic that unfortunately still is relevant today and a book well worth reading."

Stefan Tonkin

Head of Group IT

"J'aime beaucoup découvrir et visiter des lieux qui ont changé le cours de l'histoire. Un exemple qui m'a vraiment marqué est ma visite du Musée Lumiére à Lyon, en France. J'ai alors compris qu'une fois que les frères Lumiére auraient montré leur premier film à un public sélectionné, le monde ne serait plus jamais le même. Peut-on faire plus grand que cela ?"

Johanna Nyhill

HR Director Operations

Division Teams

Joachim Läckberg

Vice President Sales & Operations, PL&E

"Since I’ve had the privilege of visiting many libraries and cultural institutions over the years, I have to say that the atmosphere and dynamic of a well-attended public library is hard to beat. As an avid Francophile and former resident of Avignon, I must mention this gem of a town where I was introduced to the great French classics, both in music and literature."

Malcolm Howitt

Vice President Sales, ALM

"I love the work of César Manrique. Lanzarote is one of our favourite places, and the influence of his architecture, art and sculpture permeates the island. However equally important was his political influence in encouraging sustainable development, which has allowed the island to remain true to its cultural history and natural beauty without being spoiled by the worst effects of mass tourism."

Ryan Scapellato

VP Sales ALM North America

“I was taught to appreciate art at a young age. Visiting galleries and museums was a common occurrence growing up, with accomplished painters in the family. My appreciation has only grown stronger with travels to the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Vatican City, and Uffizi Gallery to name a few. European attractions are particularly interesting with collections spanning millennia. I will always remember walking down the corridor at the Galleria dell’Accademia to the awe-inspiring view of Michelangelo's David, an unrivaled iconic masterpiece.”

Dylan Graaff

Vice President Operations, ALM

"I love visiting museums all around the world. They are the treasure troves of human history, art, and innovation. Each exhibit tells a unique story. When I step through those entrances, I am immediately transported into the past, a different culture, or an entirely different way of thinking. But what truly makes museums remarkable is that they foster a sense of wonder and curiosity. They spark questions, ignite curiosity, and often leave me with the desire to learn more."

Chris Fincham

Head of RVR

"For most of my life I have been an avid traveler. I enjoy visiting cultural and historic sites, and places of natural beauty that some might consider off the beaten path. Some of my favourites are Jogyakarta, Indonesia, Golconda Fort, India, and Lake Baikal, Siberia to name a few. As far as literature, I find myself on the boring side, reading non-fiction almost exclusively and usually related to places I intend to travel to enrichen my experience with some background understanding of the history and culture of the area."

Helena Gomér

Head of Operations, Nacka Libraries

Meet the board

Joel Sommerfeldt

Chairman of the Board

Chairman of the Board since 2024 and Member of the Board since 2002. Former CEO and president, Axiell Group. Chairman AB Kelva, Handelsbanken Ideon and Sommerfeldt & Partners AB. Leading positions and board experience in a number of international companies in media, IT, shipping, packaging, retail industry.

Mats Hentzel

Chairman of the Board

Chairman of the Board of First Reserve AB, Omniagruppen AB, SoftIT SK AB, AxiellOmnia Invest AB, Relation & Brand AB. Member of the Board of Axiell AB, EmCe Solution Partner OY, Axiell Fastighet AB.

Stein Kleppestø

Member

Member of the Board since 2016. Stein is Associate Professor at Lund University School of Economics and Management and Partner in Blueberry Hill Management Consulting. He has extensive experience in strategy, organization and leadership development.

Joakim Nideborn

Board Member

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