Board of Directors

Here you will find information about our Board and their work.

 

Jan Svensson

Chairman of the board since 2021, chairman of the remuneration committee
Born:1956
Education:
MSc in Business Administration & Economics, Stockholm School of Economics.
Other assignments:
Chairman of the Board of Securitas AB, Fagerhult AB and Nobia AB. Board member in Herenco Holding AB
Background:
CEO of Investment AB Latour (2003-2019), CEO of AB Sigfrid Stenberg (1986-2002)
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
30 200 (own and closely related parties)
Independent/Not independent:
Independent of the Company and management, independent of the Company's major shareholders.

Florian Heiserer

Board member since 2022, Chairman of The Audit Committee
Born:1981
Education:
Master in Business Administration, Vienna University of Economics and Business Degree in Biomedical Engineering, TGM College of Electronics, Vienna
Other assignments:
CFO of HKW Group, Executive Board Member of FRAPAG Beteiligungsholding AG, Board Member of HKW Privatstiftung, MIKA Privatstiftung, FRAPAG America Inc.
Background:
Managing Director of Buy-Out Central Europe II Beteiligungs-Invest AG, Board Member of BillerudKorsnäs Venture AB, Supervisory Board Member of Atterbury S.A., Alternapak Holding B.V., Chemson Polymer-Additive AG, Buy-Out Central Europe II Beteiligungs-Invest AG.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
30 002 000 (own and closely related parties, includes 30 000 000 shares held by FRAPAG).
Independent/Not independent:
Independent of the Company and management, not independent of the Company’s major shareholders.

Victoria Van Camp

Board member since 2017, Member of the remuneration committee
Born:1966
Education:
MSc in mechanical engineering and doctorate in machine elements, Luleå University of Technology
Other assignments:
Board member SR Energy AB, LumenRadio AB, AssaAbloy AB and The Chalmers Foundation. Senior adviser Siemens Digital Industries AB and ICP Ventures. Adjunct professor at Luleå University of Technology.
Background:
Board member of VBG Group AB and PREERA. CTO and President, Technology, Director of Industrial Market Technology & Solutions, Director of Product Innovation Lubrication BU and several other positions in SKF Group.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
4 041 (own and closely related parties)
Independent/Not independent:
Independent of the Company and management, independent of the Company's major shareholders.

Magnus Nicolin

Board member since 2022, member of the Audit Committee
Born:1956
Education:
MBA Wharton – University of Pennsylvania, B Sc Stockholm School of Economics.
Other assignments:
Non Executive Director FAM AB, Chairman of the board of Munters
Background:
CEO of Ansell Limited, President, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., CEO of Esselte Business Systems Inc., Executive Vice President & Business Area President of Esselte Business Systems Inc. Senior positions in Bayer AG, Pitney Bowes Inc. and McKinsey & Company. Industrial advisor to several PE firms and service on various boards such as Primix, Esselte, Isaberg-Rapid and Ansell.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
12 000 (own and closely related parties)
Independent/Not independent:
Independent of the Company and management, not independent of the Company’s major shareholders.

Regi Aalstad

Board member since 2023, member of the Audit Committee
Born:1964
Education:
Bachelor of Business Administration, Florida Atlantic University. MBA in International Business, University of Michigan.
Other assignments:
Board member of McBride Plc, Plair SA and Gmelius SA. Advisor within leadership development and Private Equity.
Background:
Many years of experience of senior positions in the FMCG company Procter & Gamble, both in the Nordics and internationally, including the role as General manager and Vice President Europe, Asia and CEEMEA within Paper and Hygiene. Board positions in several global companies, such as Ontex, Telenor and Geberit.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
7 000
Independent/Not independent:
Independent of the Company and management, independent of the Company’s major shareholders.

Andreas Blaschke

Board member since 2024
Born:1961
Education:
Doctor of Laws Degree, University of Vienna. Master of Business Studies, Vienna University of Business Administration & Economics
Other assignments:
Senior Advisor to businesses in Austria and Brazil, Independent Board Director of TCPL Packaging Ltd.
Background:
Board Member of SFC Energy AG, Board Member of Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut (2015-2023), President of ECMA (European Carton Makers Association) (2011-2017) and Vice President of ProCarton (2011-2017), Member of the Management Board of Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG, CEO of MM Packaging, Managing Director of Mayr-Melnhof Packaging International GmbH.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
4 100
Independent/Not independent:
Independent of the company and management, independent of the company's major shareholders.

Nicklas Johansson

Board member since 2017, employee representative Swedish Paper Workers Union
Born:1968
Education:
Upper secondary school qualification in economics, Higher Vocational Education in Paper and Pulp.
Other assignments:
Chair, Swedish Paper Workers Union local branch 165
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
0

Bo Knöös

Deputy Board member since 2017, employee representative Swedish Paper Workers Union
Born:1964
Other assignments:
Chairman, Swedish Paper Workers Union local branch 96
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
0

Per Bertilsson

Board member since 2021, employee representative PTK
Born:1962
Education:
4-year technical engineering education in Örebro. Higher Vocational Education in Paper and Pulp Technology at the Swedish forest industry centre. Various industry-specific engineering courses.
Other assignments:
Senior Process engineer Pulp mill staff/management. Billerud Skog & Industri AB, Frövi/Rockhammar. Chair of Unionen branch Billerud Frövi and Rockhammar. Board member of SIRIUS, Swedish forest industry council for industrial development in collaboration with Industriarbetsgivarna. Board member of Frövifors board mill´s museum foundation.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
0

Magnus Axelsson

Deputy Board member since 2022, employee representative PTK
Born:1971
Education:
4-year technical engineering education
Background:
Improvement manager Gävle mill, former operator and group manager. Chairman of Ledarna Gävle. Board member of Ledarna STI. Board member Ekmanska stiftelsen. Various local union assignments.
Holdings in Billerud AB (publ):
120

About the board

The Board of Directors is the Company’s highest administrative body below the AGM. The Board of Directors is charged with the organization of the Company and management of the Company’s affairs, ensuring that the Company’s organization is structured such that accounting, asset management and the Company’s financial affairs otherwise are supervised in a satisfactory manner and with assessing the Company’s financial situation on an ongoing basis. 

The work of the Board follows written rules of procedure to ensure that the Board obtains information on all issues, and that all aspects of the Company’s activities relating to the Board are addressed. The Board has also established a number of general policies for the Company’s activities. They include the Company’s Code of Conduct, which summarizes the Company’s responsibilities, values and goals.

The Board’s work follows an annual cycle in order for it to optimally accomplish its tasks.

  • At the beginning of the year, the Board considers the year-end report and the annual report, as well as matters to be submitted to the AGM.
  • At the end of the year, the Board considers the business plan for the year ahead.
  • Every quarter, the Board reviews the Group’s earnings, and interim reports are approved for publication.
  • An inaugurating Board meeting is held in connection with the AGM at which members of the Board’s committees are appointed and the Board decides on matters such as the right to sign on behalf of the Company.
  • At least once a year, the Board has a meeting primarily dedicated to strategy issues, and the execution of the key strategic initiatives is subsequently followed up during the year.

 

Billerud has procedures for assessing the work of the Chairman and
members of the Board each year. The assessment serves as input for an action plan for improvements and as background to the Nomination Committee’s work as they assemble a Board.

The Board held 14 meetings in 2023, including the inaugurating meeting. For information on attendance at these meetings, see the table on next page. Before each meeting, Board members received an approved meeting agenda and written material concerning issues to be addressed at the meeting.

The Board addressed, on an ongoing basis, strategic issues relating to the company’s operations and focus, follow-up of previous acquisitions and investments, new strategic investments, the company’s sustainability work, risk management and other matters. An important aspect of the Board’s work are the financial reports that are presented at each ordinary Board meeting. The Board also receives monthly reports on the company’s financial position. At ordinary meetings, the CEO presents a detailed update on the company’s business development and key performance indicators.

One of the top priorities for the Board during the year has been the preparations for a business transformation of the Escanaba mill to make paperboard in addition to paper. The Board has also been actively engaged in the challenging market conditions that have characterized 2023 and actions and activities taken in order to mitigate the negative effects of this, including the company’s efficiency enhancement program. The Board has also worked on other strategically important issues, such as the company’s ongoing IT harmonization project, talent and succession planning and long-term strategy to achieve sustainability goals. Furthermore, in July 2023, after due consideration, the Board took the decision to appoint Ivar Vatne as new acting President and CEO of the company, replacing former President and CEO Christoph Michalski. Subsequently, in December 2023, the Board resolved to appoint Ivar Vatne as ordinary President and CEO.

In addition to participating in the audit committee meetings, the company’s auditor also participated in a Board meeting at which Board members had the opportunity to ask the auditor questions without representatives of the company’s management being present.

Attendance at Board meetings

Member Position Board meetings
Jan Svensson Chairman 14/14
Per Bertilsson Board member 14/14
Florian Heiserer Board member 14/14
Jan Åström Board member 14/14
Victoria Van Camp Board member 14/14
Magnus Nicolin Board member 14/14
Niklas Johansson Board member 13/14
Regi Aalstad Board member 9/91
Andrea Gisle Joosen Board member 5/52
Bengt Hammar Board member 5/53
  1. Regi Aalstad joined the Board of Directors at the AGM 2023
  2. Andrea Gisle Joosen left the Board at the AGM 2023
  3. Bengt Hammar left the Board at the AGM 2023

 

See also
Organization and management
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