MW Group

Last week, MW Group together with its companies assembled thought leaders from the private sector, the military academy and the military to discuss the increasing demand on us as a region to provide Host Nation support to our NATO allies. Moderated by MW Strategy's chief Strategy officer Sven Draganja and with insights from the highest level of the US military and MW group's senior military advisors, we discussed landing force perspectives, defining capabilities expected as a NATO ally, how we can demonstrate those capabilities and relationships needed cross the Nordic region. We also had the opportunity to hear directly from the top echelon of the Swedish Armed Forces the fact that we’ve moved from peace mode and exercises into a state of operations for deterrence and what that means in terms of urgent capability gaps to fill and the need for commercial and regional solutions. The day ended with a dinner organized by the Handelshögskolan i Stockholm's House of Governance & Public Policy och Karl-Adam Bonnier Center for Governance in which the conversation continued. The discussions led to tangible actions and we’re proud to contribute to the solution. In the discussions, and every day through our operating companies.  A special thanks to General Major Sandborg and vice Admiral (ret) Kilrain for their valuable insights. Also to General Major (ret) Corneliusson and Colonel (ret) Nurminen for the preparatory work and to all others that contributed to the outcome and to Martin Carlsson-Wall for the dinner arrangements.

Last week, Inlandsbanan hosted Market Days to discuss the recently published Request for Information (RFI), issued on November 11th. The event aimed to provide detailed insights into the project while gathering valuable input from the market on how the upgrade of Inlandsbanan can best be designed, built, financed, operated, and maintained.   The Inlandsbanan railway is a strategically significant corridor that supports Sweden’s green transition in the north. It serves as a critical link for military logistics, connecting transportation routes from the south to the north and connects with the west-east corridors. However, it requires substantial upgrades to realise its full potential, enabling greater volumes of freight traffic and supporting its vital role in Sweden’s transport infrastructure.   MW Strategy is proud to have contributed to the development of the RFI and to support Inlandsbanan AB in exploring how an upgrade of this railway can be achieved through alternative financing and organisational models (PPP).    “Inlandsbanan is essential for bolstering the resilience of Sweden’s transport system, especially considering the evolving security landscape. Upgrading the railway is a critical step in meeting future demands. It was inspiring to see so many national and international companies participate in the Market Days, bringing their expertise in PPP and private-sector innovation to help shape this important project together”, comments Åsa Almesjö.   We look forward to the next steps and warmly invite all stakeholders to contribute to this journey!   You can find more information about Inlandsbanan’s RFI here: https://lnkd.in/dhvS86qR

MW Strategy is happy to welcome Helene Sjöberg Sellman to the team as Manager/Project Manager. Time flies—it's already been two months since Helene joined us, and she's already made valuable contributions to the team. With nine years of experience as a management consultant, most recently at Forefront Consulting, Helene brings expertise in project management and business development across various sectors, including the public sector and transportation, as well as experience working with diverse teams on high-priority projects. “I'm excited to join MW Strategy and provide advice on pivotal projects aimed at developing Nordic dual-use infrastructure. With Sweden and Finland now NATO members, the need for infrastructure investment and development is more urgent than ever. MW Strategy plays a crucial role in advising clients on alternative financing solutions," Helene comments. She adds, “I hope to leverage my experience to help our clients' challenges of securing optimal funding solutions for critical infrastructure. I look forward to contributing to MW Strategy’s exciting growth journey ahead.” Åsa Almesjö, Managing Partner at MW Strategy, comments “I’m thrilled to have Helene joining MW Strategy. As an experienced Manager, she brings a broad range of management consulting skills to the team. Helene has already proven that she is both structured and creative and, above all, truly client-oriented. These are all very valuable qualities as MW Strategy continues to grow as we help our Nordic clients with their most pressing business issues within homeland defence and critical infrastructure.”

Yesterday our CEO, Mikael Karlsson, participated in Försvarsföretagsdagarna 2024 — a conference hosted by Swedish Armed Forces, FMV - Försvarets materielverk, SME-D, The Swedish Association of Small and Medium Size Enterprises in Defense and Security, and Swedish Security and Defence Industry Association. The event featured engaging panel discussions with representatives from both governmental and private sectors, addressing critical topics such as present challenges and future outlooks, defense policy, future supply resilience, innovation and NATO from a Swedish supply perspective. Mikael joined an esteemed panel alongside Claes Isoz, Deirdre Cederbrand and Jessica Öberg. Reflecting on the discussions, Mikael comments: "The need for security of supply can be addressed in multiple ways. We must collectively strike a balance between innovation and stability, production capacity and cost efficiency, as well as defining the roles and responsibilities of the Armed Forces versus civilian contributors. This balanced approach will shape future doctrines for the Armed Forces and inform new business strategies for defense companies, ultimately strengthening our collective security of supply."

MW Group continues its effort to bring together companies and people to strengthen the total defence in an increasingly internationalised market. Mikael Karlsson, CEO of MW Group, “We are building an industrial group of excellent small and medium-sized enterprises within the sector, driven by a decentralised model where each company’s identity, culture, expertise, drive, and agility are preserved” Mikael continues, “It is challenging for SMEs to enter the international market, which is dominated by large players and initiatives. Through MW Group, they gain the advantage of being part of a larger industrial group, with access to networks, capital, and market entry both nationally and internationally, without compromising their unique corporate identity.” Read more in Dagens Industri through the link below.

Are you passionate about GIS tech and the future of forestry? Our operating company Arbonaut is looking for a Senior Sales Manager to drive growth in Northern Europe. For over 30 years, Arbonaut has been a pioneer in geospatial technology solutions, supporting private and public organisations worldwide in complex forest digitalisation projects through state-of-the-art software and AI capabilities. Join us in our shared mission to serve a strong society. Apply by December 9th: https://lnkd.in/dZUCgJHq 

We're excited to announce that MW Group, through its subsidiary MW Forest Sense, has acquired a majority stake in Arbonaut, a leading Finnish geodata company. This marks a significant milestone as we deepen our collaboration, with plans for MW Group to acquire full ownership by January 2025. Tuomo Kauranne, founder of Arbonaut, comments, "This transition will empower Arbonaut to take on larger projects and strengthen its presence in the Nordic market. I am also pleased that our new owners are committed to preserving Arbonaut’s brand and its strong, collaborative corporate culture." "Under Tuomo Kauranne’s leadership, Arbonaut has developed into an exceptional leading technology company with strong expertise and innovative solutions. We are inspired by the opportunity to build on Arbonaut's successes alongside its talented management team. This merger will strengthen our combined ability to deliver high-quality services,” says Mikael Karlsson, MW Group's CEO. Sixten Sunabacka, Chair of the Arbonaut Board and co-owner of Forest Sense, shares, “The acquisition of Arbonaut enhances our ability to serve our clients with forest intelligence for sustainable management of a critical natural resource and opens significant opportunities to strengthen other nationally critical sectors with sophisticated geodata solutions.” Read more in Skogsindustrin, through the link below.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Treschow as Chief Operating Officer at MW Group. Adam joining the Group management team marks a key milestone in MW Group's continued growth, further strengthening our commitment to a resilient Nordic and European defence sector. With over 17 years of experience at Electrolux in leadership roles across operations and business ownership and his recent role as CEO of Ride Awake, Adam brings valuable expertise in steering growth within both established and emerging organisations. Adam Treschow comments, "It is both impressive and inspiring to see how MW Group and its well-functioning companies, individually and collectively, contribute to building a more resilient society. Against this backdrop, and in light of Sweden’s NATO membership and the EU's strengthened security ambitions, MW Group is uniquely positioned to take on an increasingly proactive role in advancing long-term security and freedom in the region. We will continue to refine our model to ensure we can welcome more companies that align with our long-term strategy. We aim to have a cohesive yet flexible structure where each company can thrive within its area of expertise while strengthening the group as a whole." Mikael Karlsson, CEO of MW Group, adds: "We have great confidence in the drive and independence of our companies, which is further amplified by the consolidated strength of the group. Our goal is to be the best possible owner within a decentralised model, enabling companies and individuals to grow and develop together. Our ambition is to create a group that is not only highly competitive in an increasingly globalised market but also actively contributes to a stronger society. Adam’s extensive experience across both small and large organisations enhances the group's capabilities, and I look forward to working with him to elevate MW Group and our companies to new heights." Welcome, Adam! 

We are thrilled to announce that Inlandsbanan AB has released a Request for Information (RFI) regarding alternative financing, organisation, and implementation models (PPP) for an upgrade of the Inlandsbanan railway. "Inlandsbanan is a strategically important project for strengthening resilience and robustness in the Swedish transport system, especially in light of the deteriorating security situation and Sweden’s entry into NATO. This upgrade is both urgent and essential to create a resilient transport system that can better meet future needs. The government’s new infrastructure bill, which opens for alternative financing, further underscores the relevance of exploring alternative financing, organisation, and implementation models for infrastructure projects” writes Åsa Almesjö. MW Strategy is pleased to have the trust of Inlandsbanan AB to support them in their efforts towards realizing an upgrade of the Inlandsbanan railway and look forward to the process ahead! You can find and read more about Inlandsbanan’s RFI here: https://lnkd.in/d6M4Vdh3

Last week, our CEO and founder Mikael Karlsson participated in a seminar to discuss future strategies for the total defense industry organized by the Swedish Minister of Defence, Pål Jonson. It’s an important initiative and we look forward to continue to contribute to shape both strategies and solutions of tomorrow.