Board of Directors

Picture Board Meeting September 2026.
Back row, from left: Ashkan Danaei, Tetra Pak, Mark Mulder, Stena Line, Bert Heikens, Treasurer, Cindy Kroon, Vattenfall, Fatih Noyan, Ericsson.
Middle row, from left: Wiebe Schmitz, Saab, Arthur Van Es, Volvo Car.
Front row, from left: Emma Wergeland, WMC, Maartje Meijer, Sweco, Ellis-Jan van den Hout, SKF, Petra Zachrisson Beets, CEO Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
(Other members of the Board participated online.)

The Board of Directors consists of representatives from the Member Companies within the Chamber and are elected
at the Annual General Meeting.

Board members are appointed for a period of four years and can be reappointed for a second and final term of four years. The governing board elects from its midst a chairman, a vice-chairman and a treasurer. The Board appoints the Managing Director, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations and ensures continuous updates on issues of importance to the Chamber. Five committees have been established to support its work; the Executive, Finance, Nomination, Member and Tech Committees respectively.

You can read more about our governance in the Articles of Association.

The Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Mr Julius Liljeström is the Honorary Chairman of the Board.

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Board of Directors

Executive Committee of the Board

Non-Executive Members of the Board

Emma Wergeland

Chair YP-Committee

Honorary Members

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce is very proud to have seven honorary members appointed by the general assemblies during the years of the executive board’s nomination. The honorary members have all been of particular service to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce over the years, and the Swedish Chamber appreciates their loyalty and contribution very much.

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Words of the Chairperson

Dear Members,

As we reflect on 2025, the Swedish Chamber has experienced a year of meaningful change, growth, and continued engagement across our community. It has been a year where connections were strengthened, new initiatives took root, and our focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, branding, innovation, and technology continued to shape a vibrant Swedish–Dutch business network. 

A central moment this year was a significant leadership transition. After 21 years of remarkable service, Kerstin Gerlagh stepped down as CEO on September 1, 2025. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kerstin and wish her every success in this exciting new chapter as she entered retirement. We were equally delighted to welcome Petra Zachrisson as our new CEO, who brings fresh energy and perspective while continuing to build on this strong foundation. This year, we were also honoured to welcome H.E. Ambassador Julius Liljeström as the new Honorary Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Throughout the year, we hosted 37 events, both at our office in Amsterdam and across member companies, including AllChiefs, Ecophon, IvCB, IKEA, Svalner Atlas Advisors, KPMG Meijburg & Co, AKD, Volvo, Validata, Tetra Pak, SKF, TK Advocaten, Polestar, Strömma, Vattenfall, and Heussen. These visits offered invaluable insights into our members’ operations and strategies, sparking inspiration, collaboration, and a stronger sense of community across our network. 

As we look toward 2026, we do so in an increasingly challenging global environment. With geopolitical tensions, war on our continent, and growing global divisions, the need for closer cooperation and mutual support within our business community is more important than ever. The Chamber therefore sees it as a clear responsibility to further strengthen collaboration among our members and to foster an even stronger sense of unity. We remain committed to providing a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and partnership, so that our network can continue to grow together. 

– Jan Sundelin, Chairperson Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Partner, PartInc

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