Pär Fors on his time as Chairman of the Board

- It has indeed been a transformative time! A time that has accentuated the need for an organization like TechSverige. For their customers, our member companies deliver great value in their daily work. A value that is increasingly pervasive for the customers' success from both a broader and deeper perspective, says Pär Fors and continues:

- In parallel, however, there has been a growing need to collaborate on cross-industry issues where we become stronger together. I'd rather not highlight any particular issue, at the risk of missing something, but you all know how much more powerful our advocacy work becomes when we speak with a common voice for the good of the tech industry. I have had the privilege of working during a period where the tech industry's position as a driver of societal transformation has greatly increased, which has been happily noted, at least by most people in our ecosystem.

What are you most proud of having achieved during your time as President?
- Undoubtedly that I am handing over a TechSverige that is so well equipped to meet the member companies' rightful demands for a world-class member and employer organization in an incredibly dynamic period in Sweden's history where our industry is more important than ever! We have a team in place under our fantastic union director Åsa Zetterberg with unique skills to continue to develop our position as an engine for industry-wide collaboration in advocacy and employer issues. It is largely a completely new team compared to when I took over as chairman and just like our member companies, TechSverige is also a "people company" and it always starts with having the right people on board and I really feel that we have. It also feels good to hand over a really strong economy that creates the basis for many future investments.

What has been the biggest challenge?
- It was definitely a bit sweaty during the early phases of the pandemic. None of us had experienced an external shock of this kind before and we really didn't know where it would go. I'm so proud of how the Board stood up at all those extra Board meetings and, above all, how Åsa and the team really rolled up their sleeves and were the support for our member companies that they so badly needed when things were at their toughest. I know that initiatives like #vitecherupp and advocacy work to find the right support measures for our particular industry were much appreciated by our member companies.

What has been the most fun?
- That I have had the privilege of socializing and discussing industry and employer issues with so many competent people both on the board, in the office and not least with our member companies. It has also been incredibly energizing to discuss, and not always agree, with everyone else who works in and influences our industry, such as politicians and others. Basically, it stems from a genuine concern to build a better and more sustainable Sweden with the help of all the possibilities of digitization.

What messages do you have for your successor Per Wallentin?
- I am incredibly happy to hand over to Per Wallentin as Chairman. He has worked in our industry for a long time and definitely has a background that makes him extremely suitable for the role. Under his leadership, Knowit has successfully developed into one of the larger companies in the tech industry in Sweden and Per's genuine commitment to the possibilities of digitalization to create a sustainable Sweden has always impressed me. Furthermore, Per has really contributed to the board with his energy and experience and during hisyear and it feels really good that he will now lead the work of the Board and also work closely with Åsa and the rest of the team. He will leave his mark on the work going forward and I am confident that the business will continue to develop under his experienced leadership.