News » New CEO for Najad

Najad re-rigging!

Najad’s board has appointed Mikael Gustavsson as its CEO. Mikael will join the company in September 2010 and take on the CEO role in November 2010. He will succeed Per Lindquist who carried out a comprehensive series of changes to meet the challenges set by the financial crisis. Per Lindquist will remain on the board in an advisory capacity and also work in parallel with Mikael Gustavsson during a transitional period.  

Mikael Gustavsson is 47 and has a degree in marine technology engineering from Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg. 

He has many years’ experience of the marine industry, both in terms of recreational boats and commercial vessels. His CV includes being project manager at Semcon for developing the Volvo Ocean Race yachts EF Language and EF Education, procurement manager and boat builder, and joins Najad from Nimbus Boats AB, where he was in charge of product development, production and procurement. 

He also has extensive knowledge of sailing and worked as a professional sailor at the highest international level (World Cup in Match Racing, various world championships and the 1992 Americas Cup).  

Mikael lives on Hönö in Göteborg’s northern archipelago together with his wife and two daughters. He loves boats and spends many hours of his leisure time out at sea.  

Stuart Lawson, chairman of Najad, says:  

“Mikael Gustavsson has a successful career in managing large and mid-sized companies, has a proven ability to perform and excellent leadership qualities. He has a sound, proven, understanding of customers’ needs by developing new products and finding innovative solutions from the rapid technological developments taking place. This experience will help Mikael lead Najad into a new phase that’s crucial for creating value for our customers, colleagues, suppliers and owners. He will also be one of the shareholders of the company.”  

Najad’s current CEO Per Lindquist will remain with the company in an advisory capacity and as an ordinary board member.

“Under Per Lindquist’s leadership Najad has significantly changed and adapted to new market conditions. The company has guaranteed long-term funding and relationships with its major business partners. An important task that the owners asked Lindquist to undertake was to find his own successor, which he’s done,” says Stuart Lawson.  

Najad will celebrate its 40 anniversary in the coming season and faces the future with a strong board and management team with high ambitions for greater growth and better profitability in an expanding market.

Read the statement of the Chairman, Stuart Lawson about the appointment of Mikael.

Download the Press Release here