Can you tell me a little briefly about yourself as a private person? Tell us something we don't know about you!

I like to study. I was a student until I turned 30, then became a student again when I turned 58 and resigned from my job as manager of Huawei's Gothenburg office to study theoretical philosophy full-time at the University of Gothenburg for a year. For the last six months I have been studying Russian literature at the University of Gothenburg half-time.

What is your education and background? 

I have a bachelor's in English literature from the University of Gothenburg. A master's degree in engineering physics from Chalmers University of Technology. A technical licentiate degree in astrophysics from Chalmers.

My original plan with my studies was to become an astronomer. Instead, I became a job for many years at Ericsson where I worked with 2G, 3G and 4G. In 2006, I became CEO of the start-up company Bluetest, which at the time had only 2 employees. In 2011, I left the CEO job at Bluetest, which then became a world leader in testing mobile phones. I'm still a partner in Bluetest. 2011 - 2014 I was head of Huawei's development office in Gothenburg. From 2014, I work with board assignments in companies with world-leading technology.

How did you get in touch with Brinja? 

One of the founders of Brinja, Robert Rehammar, who is now CTO at Bluetest introduced me to Xavier in 2018. I was impressed by Xavier's forward thinking and energy. The company was then a very early phase, similar to the one Bluetest had been in 2006. Xavier convinced me of Brinja's potential and I became an early investor in 2018. In the autumn of 2019, Xavier asked me if I could step in as Chairman of the Board of Brinja, which I did in January 2020.

 What's the best thing about being Chairman of the Board of Brinja?

To follow up close the fantastic development of making the construction industry safer and more efficient that Xavier and its team "of maniacs" are constantly working on.

What are you most proud of in your career so far? 

To take Bluetest from an unknown small company with low turnover (SEK 2 million) and loss (-1 MSEK) in 2006 to become a supplier in 3 years with only 3 employees to several of the largest mobile phone companies in Japan, Korea, China and the USA. In 2009, sales were around SEK 10 million with a profit of SEK 1 million. Last year, Bluetest's sales amounted to SEK 110 million with a profit of SEK 14.5 million

What makes a company interesting for you to invest in?

First and foremost, the founders and/or CEO. The right people can fix most things. I prefer to invest in companies with world-leading wireless and useful technologies where my experience and international contacts can help. 

You have experience working with sales and startups around the world, how do you believe in Brinja's prospects of expanding globally?

Brinja has a unique product to increase safety and save money for construction companies everywhere. What is "only" needed for expansion is a strong focus on sales to establish good relationships with customers and dealers. This is something I know Xavier has a talent for and I therefore believe the prospects of expanding internationally are very good.

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