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Saab CEO Receives Swedish Business Award for Outstanding Achievements
May 4th, 2010, 12:21pm by Ryan - 2 Comments
Saab CEO Receives Swedish Business Award for Outstanding Achievements
Recognition for Saab CEO Jan Åke Jonsson from Swedish business leaders
Praise for securing Saab’s future and helping maintain the auto industry cluster in west Sweden
Saab and Spyker CEOs address business leaders and media on future of SaabTrollhättan, Sweden: The professionalism of Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson was recognized today when he received the prestigious annual award for Outstanding Achievements from the West Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During a deep global recession in the auto industry, Jonsson led Saab Automobile through a restructuring process and protracted sale negotiations that continued for over a year. The future of the company was eventually secured when Saab Automobile was acquired from General Motors by Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands in February this year.
The award recognizes Jonsson’s role in preserving Saab as part of a strong automotive industry cluster in west Sweden. The citation praises him for “standing up for the company in a strenuous, persistent and professional way. His capacity to handle all stakeholders has strengthened his image as a highly respected leader inside Saab. He is a model for others within the West Swedish economy.”
Jonsson received the award from Finn Johnsson, Chairman of the West Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry at its annual congress in Gothenburg. Victor Muller, Chairman of Saab Automobile and CEO of Spyker Cars N.V., who successfully concluded negotiations with General Motors, was also in attendance.
Jonsson and Muller together addressed the congress, explaining how they fought to save Saab Automobile and the Saab brand, and how they will take the company forward as a profitable, sustainable and independent car maker.
“I am very proud to accept this award,” said Jan Åke Jonsson. “However, it would not have been possible without the commitment and tremendous dedication shown by all Saab employees during such a challenging time in the company’s history.
“We are now all focused together on securing a successful future. With the launch of the all new Saab 9-5 this summer, and work on a number of other exciting new cars going on behind the scenes, our plans are firmly on track.”
Note to Editors:
Saab Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company) – was founded in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer and revealed its first prototype passenger car 10 years later after the formation of the Saab Car Division. In 1990, Saab Automobile AB was created as a separate company, jointly owned by the Saab Scania Group and General Motors, and became a wholly-owned GM subsidiary in 2000. In February 2010, Spyker Cars N.V. of the Netherlands, acquired the company from GM as an independently-run business.
Saab cars reflect the brand’s unique Scandinavian design ethic, which is fused with its aircraft engineering heritage. The company is a global premium car maker with a distinguished history of innovation. It is recognized for its pioneering role in turbocharging, as well as occupant safety and the introduction of flex-fuel technology through Saab BioPower. Saab Automobile AB currently employs approximately 3,400 staff in Sweden, where it operates world-class production and technical development facilities at its headquarters in Trollhättan, 70 km north of Gothenburg.
Contact:
Saab Automobile Press Office
Tel: +46 (0)520 279797
Categories: 2010-2019
2 Comments
Congradulations to Jan Åke Jonsson. He really deserves this award as I can only imagine how much work and dedication he has done to save Saab. I look forward to meeting him again at the 2010 Convention.
hear hear……..and here here
yes much deserved and congradulations to Jan Åke Jonsson, much respect to the man that carried Saab through the treacherous jungle GM left him to perish in.
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