Svenska Spel Appoints Katarina Borstedt as New Chief People Officer

Svenska Spel has announced the appointment of Katarina Borstedt as its next chief people and culture officer. She is scheduled to take up the position in September 2026 and will become a member of the company's group management team. In her new role she will report directly to chief executive officer Anna Johnson and lead the company's people and culture strategy.

The appointment reflects Svenska Spel's continued focus on organisational development leadership excellence and employee engagement. By bringing an experienced people executive into its senior leadership team the operator aims to strengthen its long-term business strategy while supporting sustainable growth across the organisation.

Katarina Borstedt to join Svenska Spel leadership team

Katarina Borstedt joins Svenska Spel after serving as vice president of people and culture at Munters. Throughout her career she has held senior human resources and organisational development positions across several international businesses operating in different industries.

At Svenska Spel she will oversee the company's people strategy leadership development organisational design talent management and workplace culture. The position also places responsibility on her to support modern working methods while helping the organisation adapt to future business needs.

The company confirmed that the appointment forms part of its broader effort to strengthen its internal capabilities while ensuring that people and culture remain central to executive decision making.

Extensive experience in organisational transformation

Borstedt brings a broad professional background that spans high growth businesses established international companies and organisations undergoing significant transformation.

Before joining Munters she worked as chief people and culture officer at Proxify where she focused on organisational development during a period of expansion. She also served as vice president of people and performance at Instabox where she contributed to talent management and organisational performance initiatives.

Earlier in her career Borstedt spent almost four years at Northvolt where she held the role of director of growth. She also worked as vice president of talent and development at Ahlstrom and previously gained consulting experience as a senior consultant at Deloitte.

This combination of leadership positions has provided her with practical experience in workforce planning leadership development organisational change employee engagement and business transformation.

Supporting Svenska Spel's long-term strategy

Svenska Spel stated that Borstedt's experience aligns well with the company's strategic priorities. The operator continues to focus on sustainable business development customer satisfaction and maintaining a strong corporate culture while adapting to an evolving gaming market.

The company believes her background in leading organisations through periods of growth and operational change will contribute positively to its ongoing development.

Anna Johnson welcomed the appointment and highlighted the value Borstedt will bring to the executive team.

“She has broad experience in leading HR and organisational issues in companies undergoing change and building for growth. This expertise will be important for us as we continue to develop Svenska Spel with a focus on sustainable growth, customer satisfaction and corporate culture.”

The company indicated that Borstedt's appointment will complete the planned leadership transition within its people function.

Focus on leadership and workplace culture

Modern organisations increasingly recognise that effective people management plays an important role in achieving sustainable business performance. As chief people and culture officer Borstedt will help strengthen leadership capabilities across Svenska Spel while supporting employees through future organisational development initiatives.

Her responsibilities will include developing leadership frameworks improving internal collaboration supporting recruitment and talent development and helping maintain an inclusive workplace culture.

The position also involves ensuring that people strategies remain aligned with Svenska Spel's commercial objectives while supporting employee wellbeing professional development and organisational effectiveness.

Smooth transition within the HR function

The leadership transition has been carefully planned to ensure operational continuity.

Joakim Karlsson has served as acting chief people and culture officer since October 2025. Once Borstedt assumes her new responsibilities he will return to his previous role as head of talent acquisition and tech.

This planned handover allows Svenska Spel to maintain stability within its human resources operations while benefiting from Borstedt's experience once she officially joins the company.

The structured transition also enables the organisation to continue executing its existing people initiatives without disruption.

Katarina Borstedt shares her perspective

Following confirmation of her appointment Borstedt expressed enthusiasm about joining Svenska Spel and contributing to its future development.

She said she looks forward to:

“contribute with my experience of developing organisations, leadership and working methods in growth and change journeys”

Her comments reflect her long-standing focus on organisational improvement and leadership development across businesses experiencing expansion and transformation.

With experience gained across multiple sectors Borstedt is expected to bring practical knowledge of managing complex organisational change while supporting business objectives through people focused strategies.

Svenska Spel continues positive business performance

The appointment comes during a period of stable business performance for Svenska Spel.

Earlier this year the company reported a 2 percent year-on-year increase in net gaming revenue reaching SEK 1.9 billion. According to the company the improvement was supported by positive performance across multiple business areas.

While financial performance and people strategy are separate aspects of corporate management many organisations consider strong leadership and employee engagement important factors that contribute to long-term operational success.

As Svenska Spel continues implementing its strategic objectives Borstedt will play an important role in supporting organisational development and ensuring that leadership capabilities evolve alongside the company's business priorities.

Looking ahead

Katarina Borstedt's appointment represents an important addition to Svenska Spel's executive leadership team. Her extensive experience across human resources organisational transformation leadership development and talent management positions her well for the responsibilities ahead.

As the company continues focusing on sustainable growth customer satisfaction and organisational excellence her expertise is expected to support the ongoing development of its people strategy. Together with the existing management team Borstedt will help strengthen leadership practices workplace culture and organisational capabilities while contributing to Svenska Spel's long-term business objectives.

Conclusion

The appointment of Katarina Borstedt reflects Svenska Spel‘s continued investment in leadership development and organisational capability. Her experience across a diverse range of international businesses provides a strong foundation for guiding the company's people and culture strategy during its next phase of development. With a planned leadership transition already in place and the business reporting stable financial performance Svenska Spel enters this new chapter with a clear focus on strengthening its workforce and supporting sustainable long-term growth. Borstedt's arrival is expected to reinforce the company's commitment to effective leadership employee development and a positive corporate culture.

FAQs

What position has Katarina Borstedt been appointed to at Svenska Spel?
Katarina Borstedt has been appointed as chief people and culture officer and will join Svenska Spel's group management team.

When will Katarina Borstedt begin her new role?
She is scheduled to assume the position in September 2026.

Who will Katarina Borstedt report to?
She will report directly to Svenska Spel chief executive officer Anna Johnson.

Where did Katarina Borstedt work before joining Svenska Spel?
Before joining Svenska Spel she served as vice president of people and culture at Munters.

What are Katarina Borstedt's main responsibilities?
She will oversee people strategy leadership development organisational design workplace culture and talent management.

What previous companies has Katarina Borstedt worked for?
Her previous employers include Munters Proxify Instabox Northvolt Ahlstrom and Deloitte.

Who served as acting chief people and culture officer before this appointment?
Joakim Karlsson has been serving as acting chief people and culture officer since October 2025.

What role will Joakim Karlsson hold after the transition?
He will return to his previous position as head of talent acquisition and tech.

How did Svenska Spel perform financially before this appointment?
The company reported a 2 percent year-on-year increase in net gaming revenue reaching SEK 1.9 billion.

Why is this appointment significant for Svenska Spel?
The appointment strengthens the company's executive leadership while supporting its long-term focus on organisational development leadership and sustainable growth.