The Board of Directors of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce are very proud to present new Board Member Bernie van Leeuwen, Managing Director of SKF Group Nederland, who was elected at the Annual General Meeting on June 21, 2022.
After graduating in 1999 as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Twente, I started my career as a Mechatronics Engineer in SKF’s Engineering and Research Center in the Netherlands. In 2001 I had the pleasure of managing one of SKF’s largest automotive innovation projects where SKF developed and presented the world’s first full drive-by-wire vehicle. It was the second time in all of SKF’s history to present a vehicle at the Geneva autoshow. After that, I joined SKF’s Automotive Development Centre and worked in close collaboration with SKF’s automotive customers all over the world on further improving vehicle safety systems through SKF’s Load Sensing Technology. After finalizing an MBA at the Rotterdam School of Management in 2009 I then became one of the drivers of SKF’s automotive innovation strategy.
In 2011 I joined SKF’s Industrial business and had the pleasure to work as a Business Engineer with SKF’s global wind customers in India, South Europe and South America. Remaining passionate about engineering I was then asked to lead SKF’s global engineering experts that provided the advanced engineering support to SKF’s global wind business as a main activity.
In 2016 I was given the opportunity to come to Sweden, work from SKF’s headquarters and take on the challenge of defining the potential that artificial intelligence and machine learning could bring for the SKF business . Later that year I became Director Product Management Digitalization in which I was transforming SKF’s portfolio of Condition Monitoring and Preventive Maintenance solutions.
In 2018 I returned to The Netherlands and accepted the challenge to lead the organization where I started my career; SKF’s Research and Technology Development. Combined with my statutory role as Managing Director for SKF Netherlands, I consider it a privilege every day to lead the best scientists, technologists and researchers in their field. Through our research we continue to set the standard in the market when it comes to the reliable and sustainable rotation of machines.
Since 2001 I have been supported in this journey – as well as lot of other journeys outside of the professional life – by my wife Elena, who I married in 2006. She speaks, just like our two sons of 8 and 11, fluent Swedish thanks to her 2 years at Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg as a medical specialist. We both enjoy race cycling as well as skiing with the family. We basically consider anything that allows us to enjoy nature and be active outside as a great way to recharge and stay fit. It is this same passion for nature which is driving my personal interest and motivation to protect it and to develop technologies, solutions and people towards an even more sustainable future.
A very warm welcome to Bernie and we are looking forward to the future collaboration!
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