Fjällräven International AB announces changes in management in order to strengthen the company’s global orientation.
- Thomas Gröger (Country Manager, Fjällräven Germany) is appointed as International Sales and Export Manager, Deputy to Fjällräven CEO Martin Axelhed and becomes a member of the Executive Board. This is in addition to his current position.
- Nathan Dopp (President Fjällräven North America) will share the role of Deputy CEO, Fjällräven to Martin Axelhed with Thomas Gröger. He also joins the Executive Board.
- John Are Lindstad, formerly International Sales Manager, is leaving the company in mid-March 2017 at his own request.
Fjällräven is a leading provider of robust and reliable products for outdoor enthusiasts, which it distributes in over 30 countries around the world. Founded in Sweden in 1960, the company has enjoyed continuous growth in its established markets in Europe. In addition, in recent years Fjällräven has increasingly expanded internationally, driven by its new markets in North America and Asia. This greater global orientation creates new challenges for the brand.
“As International Sales Manager for Fjällräven, John Are Lindstad has played a decisive role in positioning the brand in these markets. His decision to leave the company means that we have an important gap to fill,” says Martin Axelhed, CEO Fjällräven. “I would like to thank John for his dedication and commitment and wish him all the best for the future.”
John Are Lindstad has been with Fjällräven since 2008 and held a number of positions, including: International Sales and Export Manager, Head of B2C, Member of the Executive Board and Deputy CEO to Martin Axelhed. He is leaving the company at his own request in mid-March 2017.
To continue as a successful, international brand and fill these vacant positions, Fjällräven is drawing on existing expertise from within the company and its respective country markets. With Thomas Gröger and Nathan Dopp, two experienced Country Managers from Fjällräven’s biggest markets are taking on these responsibilities and further strengthening the company’s international orientation.
“Thomas Gröger’s long-standing experience as Country Manager Germany and extensive understanding of market requirements make him the ideal choice to take on new duties as International Sales Manager and my deputy,” says CEO Martin Axelhed. “And with Nathan Dopp as a further deputy, we are ensuring that the expertise from our second-largest and very fast-growing market, North America, continues to flow into our strategic development. I’m delighted about these new additions to the executive team and wish them both every success with their new responsibilities.”
These changes at management level will give the country markets Germany and North America greater say in the strategic orientation of the brand. “I am convinced that all the company’s country markets will benefit from the know-how of such an established market as Germany, which has consistently grown over the years, as well as the experiences gained from a relatively new and accelerating market, like North America,” adds Martin Axelhed.
Thomas Gröger has been with Fjällräven since January 2011 and is responsible for the company’s strongest market as Country Manager Germany. He will continue in this position with support from the German sales team. Thomas Gröger is taking on the position of International Sales Manager and Deputy CEO to Martin Axelhed in addition to his other responsibilities. Nathan Dopp has been with the company since October 2012. As President for Fjällräven in North America, he is responsible for the Swedish brand’s second biggest market. Together, Nathan Dopp and Thomas Gröger will act as deputies for Martin Axelhed and become members of the Executive Board.
In the future, Fjällräven’s Executive Board will be composed as follows: Martin Axelhed (CEO Fjällräven), Thomas Gröger (Sales and Export Manager Fjällräven, Country Manager Germany and Deputy to Martin Axelhed), Nathan Dopp (President and Sales Manager Fjällräven North America and Deputy to Martin Axelhed), Christiane Dolva (Head of CSR and Sustainability), Anna Van Aller (Head of B2C-Ecom and Brand Retail), Leif Öhlund (Global Marketing Manager) and Henrik Andersson (Head of Innovation and Design).
ABOUT FJÄLLRÄVEN
In 1960, Åke Nordin founded Fjällräven in his basement in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik. Since then, Fjällräven has made a commitment to high quality and functional design, while staying true to its mission of developing timeless and durable outdoor equipment and apparel, acting responsibly towards people, animals and nature and inspiring people to get outside. Today, the company has presence in over 30 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.fjallraven.us.
