Lars Kry

Hello CEO: Lars Kry, Nexer Group

#vitecherupp Hello CEO Ukraine
In our article series Hello CEO, we are currently focusing on the war in Ukraine and the consequences for our member companies. Lars Kry is CEO of Nexer Group - part of the Danir Group, which has around 2000 employees in IT/Tech and systems development in Ukraine. Nexer's Ukrainian colleagues at Sigma Software have developed a digital platform for Swedes who help refugee families with housing and support.

What have you done at Nexer and what are you doing to assist colleagues in Ukraine from Sweden?
- We have of course assisted our colleagues now during the war but also before it started. Early on, preparatory work was done with plans for evacuation, accommodation, transportation, etc. Work was also done to secure source code and other things linked to customer assignments, says Lars Kry and continues:

- Once the war broke out, the focus was on evacuating staff and their families to safer parts of Ukraine and ensuring that everyone was safe and secure. We also have operations in Poland and there has been a great commitment to help those who fled the country and even there it is about housing, transportation, food and clothing but also opening up the office and providing the opportunity for a workplace, computer and so on.

- For those who remain in Ukraine, many of the colleagues want to continue working as usual and have as "normal" an everyday life as possible and there we have been able to help ensure that ongoing customer assignments have been able to continue. We would also like to see us expand with more assignments to Ukraine.

- Like many others, we have contributed funding, both to UNHCR and our own initiative within the Danir Group with www.uppropukraina.se. We also started a collection among our employees worldwide where the company doubled the amount donated by the employees. This was much appreciated and created great engagement.

How is Nexer helping the tech companies/tech community in Ukraine?
- It is important to do what is possible for those who remain in the country. Many want to continue to work and then there must be customer assignments and at best be expanded with additional assignments. If we can contribute to work in Ukraine and also to those who have fled the country, we will do so.

- We also believe that it is crucial that Ukraine is not drained of skills, but that the best conditions are in place for the country when it comes to being able to rebuild it into a prominent technology nation. For those who leave Ukraine for Poland or Sweden, for example, we try to create job opportunities. We have offices and operations in several countries, and we are happy to help IT professionals who need help.

What is your call to action for other tech companies that want to help?
- It is important that we all help each other, no one can do everything but everyone can do something. Nothing is too small. For the refugee families who come to Sweden, it is important that they can quickly get a functioning everyday life with housing, school and work. During the war, our colleagues at Sigma Software in Ukraine have developed a platform where Ukrainian refugee families can meet Swedish volunteers who want to help with housing or support. The platform is called Swedes for Ukraine and is available to everyone. It is available in Swedish, English and Ukrainian and I urge everyone to spread information about the site so that those who can and want to contribute are given the opportunity.