Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of New Wave Group AB consists of eight members elected by the AGM. The Board of Directors’ working procedures are defined in the rules of procedure, which regulate the delegation of responsibility between the Board of Directors and the CEO, the CEO’s authority, the meeting schedule and reporting routines.
The meetings of the Board of Directors address budgets, interim reports, year-end accounts, state of business, investments and establishments. The meetings also address general issues relating to the long-term business strategy as well as structural and organizational issues.
The language of the board meetings and documentation is Swedish. Generally, between seven and twelve board meetings are held each year.
The Chairman organizes and leads the Board of Directors’ work to ensure that it is carried out in accordance with the Swedish Companies Act, other legislation and regulations, applicable rules for listed companies, including the Swedish Corporate Governance Code (the Code), and the Board of Directors’ other internal control instruments. The Chairman follows the company’s operations in dialogue with the CEO and is responsible for that all members of the Board of Directors receive the information required to complete the tasks of the Board of Directors.
Göran Härstedt is the secretary of the Board of Directors.
Independence of the Board
The board of New Wave Group is subject to the independence requirements stipulated in the Code, meaning that a majority of the board's members must be independent in relation to the company and company management, and that at least two of these must also be independent in relation to the company's major shareholders.
As CEO and majority owner of New Wave Group, Torsten Jansson is not independent in relation to the company, the company's management and the company's major shareholders. Isabella Jansson is also not independent, as she is employed in the group and daughter of Torsten Jansson. Kinna Bellander, Susanne Given, Kristina Johansson, Ralph Mühlrad, Olof Persson and M. Johan Widerberg are considered to be independent in relation to both the company and the company management as well as in relation to the company's major shareholders.
It is the nomination committee's assessment that the current board composition in New Wave Group meets the independence requirements set out in the Code. It is noted, however, that the Code states that at most one of the board members must work in the company's or subsidiary's management. As Torsten Jansson is CEO of New Wave Group and Isabella Jansson is a deputy CEO and member of a subsidiary's (Orrefors Kosta Boda AB) management team, the current board composition is a departure from the Code. With regard to the ownership composition and the importance of continuity within the ownership family, the nomination committee considers that it is well-founded to depart from the Code in this regard, and it is the nomination committee's assessment that the board is appropriately composed and well suited for its tasks.
Kinna Bellander
Member of the Board since 2009.
Born 1955.
Main education and work experience: Studies at KTH, journalist and theologian. Former head of business development at TV4 and EVP at MTG.
Other commitments in the company: Member of the Audit Committee.
Other significant commitments: Chairman of the Board of Dalarna University and Marginalen AB. Member of the Board of Sveriges Utbildningsradio (UR) AB.
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 4,000 class B shares.
Independence: Considering the criteria set out in the Code, Kinna Bellander is independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders.
Susanne Given
Member of the Board since 2024.
Born 1964.
Main education and work experience: 25 years experience from leading positions in retail (e.g., Harrods, John Lewis nad Superdry), as well as many years experience from international Boards (Europe, the Middle East and India).
Other commitments in the company: -
Other significant commitments: Member of the Board of Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation, Trent Ltd, Hush Homewear Ltd.
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 50,000 buy options
Independence: Considering the criteria set out in the Code, Susanne Given is independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders.
Isabella Jansson
Member of the Board since 2023.
Born 1988.
Main education and work experience: Law degree from Uppsala University. Active within New Wave’s operations in Kosta since 2016, serving as, among other roles, Operations Manager of Kosta Food & Beverage AB, as well as Marketing Coordinator and then Product Manager at Orrefors Kosta Boda AB.
Other commitments in the company: CEO at, and part of the management team of, Orrefors Kosta Boda AB. Member of the Board of Kosta Boda Art Hotel AB, Kosta Fashion AB, Kosta Food & Beverage AB, Kosta Outdoor AB, Lågprisvaruhuset Kosta AB, Kosta Förlag AB, Kosta Lodge AB and Destination Kosta AB.
Other significant commitments: -
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 7,868 class B shares.
Independence: Considering that Isabella Jansson is active within the Group and that she is the daughter of Torsten Jansson, she is not independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders according to the criteria set out in the Code.
Torsten Jansson
Member of the Board since 1991. CEO and Group CEO. Founder of and majority shareholder in New Wave Group AB.
Born 1962.
Main education and work experience: Two years social-science high school. Entrepreneur.
Other significant commitments: -
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 39,415,360 class A shares, 5,463,562 class B shares.
Independence: Considering that Torsten Jansson is the CEO and Group CEO, as well as majority shareholder, he is not independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders according to the criteria set out in the Code.
Kristina Johansson
Member of the Board since 2024.
Born 1970.
Main education and work experience: International background including several years as CEO and in leading positions in various companies (including Ikea and Cosmetic Group).
Other significant commitments: CEO of Dutch company Loavies. Member of the Board of FWH Trading HoldCo AB and Petgood AB.
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 50,000 buy options
Independence: Considering the criteria set out in the Code, Kristina Johansson is independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders.
Ralph Mühlrad
Member of the Board since 2021.
Born 1960.
Main education and work experience: Three years business high school, business studies at Stockholm University. Ralph has worked as CEO of the Nordic part of the American sports and clothing group Champion for more than 30 years, where he has also been Board member of Champion Europe S.P.A. Being a former Board member of Midsona AB, Ralph has experience from listed companies.
Other significant commitments: Chairman of the Board of Habima AB and Muhlrad-Invest AB, Board member of AB Kontaktpressning and Stureplans Affärsresebyrå AB.
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 15,000 class B-shares.
Independence: Considering the criteria set out in the Code, Ralph Mühlrad is independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders.
Olof Persson
Member of the Board and Chairman since 2016.
Born 1964.
Main education and work experience: MBA. Olof has previously been president and CEO of AB Volvo (2011–2015). Prior to that, he was CEO of Volvo Construction Equipment (2008–2011) and CEO of Volvo Aero (2006–2008).
Other commitments in the company: -
Other significant commitments: Member of the Board of World Flight Services and Iveco Group.
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 70,000 class B shares.
Independence: Considering the criteria set out in the Code, Olof Persson is independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders.
M. Johan Widerberg
Member of the Board since 2014.
Born 1949.
Main education and work experience: MBA. Long experience of leading positions within a large European bank, approx. 15 years as Vice President.
Other commitments in the company: Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Other significant commitments: Member of the Board of Stabelo Asset Management AB, Gunnar Dafgård AB and Thomas Concrete Group AB.
Shareholding in the company, own and related parties: 12,000 class B shares.
Independence: Considering the criteria set out in the Code, M. Johan Widerberg is independent of the company, its executive management and the company’s major shareholders.