Press release -
Caroline Berg Appointed CEO of Axel Johnson
The board of Axel Johnson has decided that Caroline Berg will continue as permanent CEO of the company after having served as interim CEO since November 2024. At the same time, Marie Ehrling, who has been vice chair of the board since 2015, will take over the role of chair of the board.
Caroline Berg has been chair of the board at Axel Johnson since 2015 and is a board member of the industrial company Axel Johnson International. She is also a member of the board and nominated as chair of Axfood, as well as chair of the Järvaveckan foundation. She will continue in her role as board director Axel Johnson.
Marie Ehrling, Chair of Axel Johnson:
"Caroline Berg, in her new role as CEO of Axel Johnson, will be incredibly important in driving renewal and progress across all of the group's businesses. Caroline represents a strong combination of business acumen and genuinely values-driven leadership Her leadership style attracts and inspires. With her deep knowledge and background within the company, Caroline has a unique platform to create energy and momentum, taking the next big step in developing Axel Johnson for future opportunities and challenges."
Since Caroline Berg assumed the role of interim CEO, new board chairs have been appointed or nominated for all of the group companies, including external chairs such as Tomas Franzén at Dustin and Jonas Samuelsson at Axel Johnson International, both of whom also serve on the Axel Johnson board. This change highlights Axel Johnson’s decentralized structure and reflects the fact that the group’s companies have grown larger.
Caroline Berg, CEO of Axel Johnson:
"I have lived with Axel Johnson every day for decades, and I look forward to continuing to work even more closely with our businesses and employees in the CEO role. I strongly believe in the model of decentralized governance with strong values that we, as owners, stand for, in order to provide each of our companies with the best possible support. Despite tough markets, we have a very strong platform to build on. I see great opportunities for our group companies to capture market share and grow in the coming years."
Axel Johnson’s Group Companies
Axfood
Chair: Caroline Berg (nominated as chair ahead of the AGM in March)
CEO: Simone Margulies
Axel Johnson International
Chair: Jonas Samuelsson
CEO: Martin Malmvik
Dustin
Chair: Tomas Franzén
CEO: Johan Karlsson
Martin & Servera
Chair: Camilla Wideroth
CEO: Liv Forhaug
Novax
Chair: Camilla Wideroth
CEO: Niclas Palmstierna
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Axel Johnson is a leading family business in rapid renewal, focusing on the group's 10/50/50 target. The group companies currently consist of wholly-owned Axel Johnson International, AxSol, Martin & Servera, and Novax, as well as the partially owned publicly listed Axfood (ownership stake 50.1%) and Dustin (ownership stake 50.1%). In 2023, Axel Johnson's net turnover amounted to approximately 127 billion Swedish kronor, and the group companies collectively employ around 27,000 people. Axel Johnson is a family business run by the fifth generation and is owned by Antonia Ax:son Johnson and her family. Axel Johnson is one of four independent groups within the Axel Johnson Group, alongside the real estate company Axfast, the American Axel Johnson Inc., and the management company AltoCumulus.
