Increased internationalization the focus of change in Saab management
As part of this process, Gripen International’s current Managing Director Ian McNamee has been appointed to Saab’s Group management. Johan Lehander will be the new MD for Gripen International. Senior VP Communication Iréne Svensson will be responsible for Saab’s new establishment in Brussels.
“These are important steps both to meet the needs of increased internationalization and to take greater responsibility for Gripen International, in accordance with the recent agreement with BAE Systems,” comments Saab Group CEO Åke Svensson. As business volumes fall in Sweden and growth increasingly takes place on an international market, greater focus on internationalization for Saab’s management is needed. Ian McNamee is now leaving Gripen International and will be part of the Group management team with particular responsibility for Saab’s overall marketing efforts within Saab International and Saab Industrial Cooperation. Ian will also be helping to develop Saab’s international cooperations and to streamline the Group’s business processes. Gripen International has been a business unit within Saab since January 1 this year. The new head of the unit will be Johan Lehander, who is acting head of Saab Aerosystems. Johan will focus on continuing Gripen export and the coordination potential that exists between the Swedish Gripen program and export activities. Saab is also increasing its presence in Brussels, with Iréne Svensson establishing a Saab office on site in Brussels, Belgium. Her role will be to develop the company’s contacts and monitor issues of importance to Saab, such as defence, space and public safety issues. The changes will be implemented as soon as possible during the first quarter of 2005. Saab is one of the world’s leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The Group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration. For further information, please contact: Peter Larsson, Press Officer, Saab AB, tel +46 (0)8-463 00 18, +46 (0)734-18 00 18 www.saab.se
