CEOs and chairmen
Södra has had many chairpersons and CEOs over the years. Founder Gösta Edström was both CEO and later chairman for several years. Below you can read about all of Södra's CEOs and chairpersons since we were founded in 1938.
2020 - Present
Lotta Lyrå
Lotta Lyrå took over as CEO in Q4 2020.
2020-2020
Peter Karlsson, Acting
Peter Karlsson was appointed acting CEO in 2020.
2012-2020
Lars Idermark
Under Lars Idermark's leadership, a corporate strategy was implemented to make Södra a value-creating and cohesive group with profitable growth. Following a board decision in 2014, billion-euro investments were made in Södra's pulp mills resulting in significant capacity increases at the Värö and Mörrum mills.
2012-2012
Gunilla Saltin, Acting
Gunilla Saltin was appointed acting CEO in 2012.
2004-2012
Leif Brodén
After the Gudrun storm in 2005, Södra's ability to come together was tested. The corporate management under Leif Brodén, in collaboration with the board, created procedures for wood handling and pricing models in critical situations. Leif Brodén emphasized the importance of increased productivity in the company.
1999-2004
Anders Wahrolén
Together with the chairman of the association board, Lars-Eric Åström, Anders Wahrolén was instrumental in acquiring Geijerträ in 2002. It provided Södra with new competence in the processing sector.
1999-1999
Kenth Ohlsson, Acting
Kenth Ohlsson was appointed acting CEO in 1999. The Mönsterås combined sawmill was inaugurated in the same year.
1995-1998
Helge Eklund
The focus on nature conservation issues continued, and during Helge Eklund's tenure as CEO, Södra's board adopted a nature conservation policy. A new combined sawmill in Mönsterås began construction.
1993-1994
Bo S Hedström
During the early 1990s, nature conservation issues intensified in Södra. Among other things, a special nature conservation committee was established in the company, and a volunteer nature conservation representative was appointed in each forest owner zone.
1986-1992
Rune Brandinger
In the early 1990s, the market for sawn timber and pulp deteriorated sharply. During Rune Brandinger's tenure as CEO, Skåne's Forest Owners was integrated into Södra.
1984-1986
Bernt Löf
Bernt Löf was appointed CEO in 1984. In the mid-1980s, Södra's profits rose sharply, and the state's shares were redeemed in 1985.
1983-1984
Birger Johansson, Acting
Birger Johansson was appointed acting CEO in 1983.
1983-1983
Robert Nilsson
Robert Nilsson was appointed CEO in 1983, and during the year, discussions about long-term financing solutions for Södra took place.
1979-1983
Mårten Bendz
Mårten Bendz, head of Södra's forestry division, was appointed CEO in 1979. During the years 1979-1983, the recession continued, major rationalizations were implemented, and half of the members left Södra.
1971-1979
Lennart Schotte
Lennart Schotte was appointed CEO of Södra in 1971. During his years as CEO, the Värö mill was inaugurated. In the late 1970s, Södra fell into financial crisis, and the state became a co-owner.
1970-1971
Kjell Kilander, Acting
Kjell Kilander was appointed acting CEO in 1970.
1968-1970
Lennart Helming
Lennart Helming, who had previously been the site manager at the Mörrum mill, moved in the autumn of 1968 as the newly appointed CEO to the then-new headquarters at Skogsudden in Växjö.
1968-1968
Göthe Malmlöw
Göthe Malmlöw succeeded Gösta Edström as CEO on January 1, 1968. He left the CEO position the same year, but during the spring managed to establish a special membership department at Södra.
1938-1968
Gösta Edström
Gösta Edström, Södra's founder, was active in the association for over 60 years, first as CEO from 1938-1968 and then as chairman from 1968-1973. A strong conviction that forest farmers have to come together to pursue their common interests in Gösta Edström's work. During his time as CEO, the pulp mills in Mönsterås and Mörrum were built.
Chairman of Södra's board since 1938
Magnus Hall
Lena Ek was elected as Södra’s first female chair at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. She works actively to safeguard property rights and frequently highlights the important role of Södra and forestry in society’s transition to a bioeconomy.
Lena Ek
Elected chair at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. Member of the board since 2020.
2010-2015
Christer Segerstéen
During Christer Segerstéen’s chairmanship, environmental issues received significant attention within Södra’s association board. Following a major financial loss in 2012, the board decided on extensive cost-saving measures, including large-scale staff reductions. Segerstéen also oversaw a major industrial expansion, with a total investment of SEK 6 billion in Södra’s three pulp mills.
1992-2010
Lars-Eric Åström
After serving as vice chair of the association board since 1983, Lars-Eric Åström was elected chair in 1993. During his tenure, Södra’s financial position improved, the association’s geographic reach expanded, and industrial operations grew and became more efficient. Environmental conservation issues began to gain traction, and a model for green forest management plans was developed, giving special attention to nature conservation in forestry practices.
1984-1992
Archibald Dickson
Archibald Dickson assumed the chairmanship of Södra in 1984. After several challenging years for the association, he guided the board to a unanimous decision in 1985 to redeem the state’s shares. Södra was once again fully owned by its members. This marked the beginning of a consolidation period for the association.
1979-1984
Thorsten Nilsson
Thorsten Nilsson was elected chair in 1979. During his tenure, Södra struggled with major financial difficulties.
1973-1979
Urban Sundberg
Urban Sundberg took over the chairmanship of Södra from Gösta Edström in 1973. The financial crisis at Södra in the late 1970s led to the state becoming a part-owner. In connection with this, the entire board offered to resign, and Sundberg was not re-elected.
1968-1973
Gösta Edström
Gösta Edström, the founder of Södra, was active in the association for over 60 years—first as CEO from 1938 to 1968, and then as chairman of the board from 1968 to 1973. A strong belief that forest owners must unite to protect their shared interests was a driving force in Gösta Edström’s work. During his chairmanship, a key decision was made to build the mill in Värö.
1956-1968
Erik von Kantzow
During Erik von Kantzow’s tenure as chair, Södra’s association board decided to build the Mörrum mill, which he later had the honor of inaugurating in 1962.
1938-1956
Björn Hyltén-Cavallius
Björn Hyltén-Cavallius was active in the forest cooperative movement for several decades. In 1938, he was elected chair of the board of the South-Eastern Sweden Forest Owners’ Association (Södra), becoming Södra’s first board chair. He was involved in decisions to establish the pulp industry and also approved the creation of Södra’s first forest management district in Linneryd in 1956.
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Södra is Sweden’s largest forest owners’ association and an international forest industry group, where the operations refine the members’ forest raw material.
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Södra is Sweden’s largest forest owners’ association and an international forest industry group, where the operations refine the members’ forest raw material.