Gunnar Johansson has been named chief executive officer and a board member of bedding major Hilding Anders Group, which has headquarters in Malmö, Sweden.
Johansson’s appointment was immediately effective when announced May 4 in a news release from the company. He replaces Anders Pålsson who, the release said, stepped down from his position after nine years at the helm of the company.
From 1981 to 2009, Johansson was with Stockholm–based Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget AS, a personal hygiene and paper products company. Most recently, he was in charge of SCA’s hygiene products category, which has annual sales of more than 5 billion euros ($7.2 billion U.S.).
“We are delighted to welcome Gunnar Johansson onto the board of Hilding Anders and feel that his credentials and background are ideal for the next phase of the group’s development,” said Fredrik Arp, Hilding Anders board chairman. “His prime tasks will be to accelerate organic growth in mature markets and to pursue acquisition opportunities in emerging markets. Hilding Anders is an excellent company with a very good team and I would like to thank Anders Pålsson for his commitment and contribution to the group during the past years.”
Hilding Anders operates in 40 countries in Europe and Asia. Its brands include Andre Renault, Askona, Dunlopillo, Hilding, Jensen, Myer’s, Perfect Dreams, Slumberland, Staples and Vono, among others.
