Johan Grönlund was hired as the new COO of Forte Digital Norway in November 2023. From 1 August, he will take over the role from John Kårikstad, who has led the company since its inception in 2017.
– I look forward to taking over the baton from John, who over the past 7 years has created a company I believe is completely unique. What started back in 2017 as a small group of technologists, has today become an interdisciplinary competence house with over 300 subject matter experts across four countries. John should have a lot of the credit for that. I am humbled by the trust I have received from him and the board to take Forte Digital Norway to new heights, says Grönlund.
Johan Grönlund is a civil engineer.
Grönlund has a master's degree in industrial economics and has previously held management roles at PwC and most recently Circle K. He has extensive experience in bridging the gap between business and technology, product development and digital innovation.
– Most companies can get much more value out of investments in digital development, and they can become even better at creating value based on smart use of data. In this area, Forte Digital is a leader. My ambition is for Forte Digital to be the first choice when ambitious companies need to find a growth partner to succeed digitally.
John Kårikstad, who will now become CEO of Forte Group, is confident that Grönlund is the right man for the job and believes the timing is right.
European ambitions
John Kårikstad, who will now become CEO of Forte Group, is confident that Grönlund is the right man for the job and believes the timing is right.
– Johan has the necessary leadership and personal skills to drive Forte Digital Norway forward. I am absolutely sure that we have got the right man for the job," says Kårikstad.
Kårikstad says that the change of leadership comes as a result of strong growth in Europe and thus a need to build structures across Norway, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark. The goal is to become a European heavyweight in digital transformation and leverage expertise and capacity across all the markets Forte is represented in.
– It is the right timing considering the growth we are now experiencing in Europe. We recently opened offices in Switzerland and Austria, bringing us to a European network of digital minds in six countries. It will be my job to create good synergies across all the countries.
Kårikstad explains that many Europeans look to Norway and Scandinavia as pioneers in digitalization. He believes that Scandinavian business culture is seen as a stamp of quality on the continent.
– Our European colleagues call it Scandinavian pragmatism. They have seen how we work with our customers in Norway and the value we create, and are now working to implement that mindset in the German-speaking countries.
Joachim Bader (right) and Christof Zahneissen (left) are leading Forte Digital's investment in Central Europe. Together with Sandra Dittrich.
And it was precisely the investment in the DACH region (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) that was highlighted as particularly interesting when Ferd acquired a stake in Forte Digital in 2023.
– Society will be further digitalised, and we strongly believe that there are significant growth opportunities outside the Norway as well," especially in Germany and the rest of the Nordic region, said Morten Borge, CEO of Ferd, when the news was released just over 12 months ago.
