Scandinavian Airlines' President and CEO Resigns

Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS, has announced that he will leave the airline effective 1 July 2021, at the latest.

Mr. Gustafson has been with SAS for 10 years.

“After ten intense and stimulating years, the time has come for me to pass on the baton to the next CEO of SAS during the first half of 2021, as I have accepted an opportunity to join one of Sweden’s largest industrial groups [AB SKF],” Mr. Gustafson said. “SAS has a strong position in the Scandinavian market and is well positioned to lead the aviation industry toward a more sustainable future once the pandemic is under control. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all esteemed colleagues, customers and other stakeholders in SAS for their engagement, loyalty and support over the years. SAS is a fantastic organization with extraordinary people that will ensure that SAS remains an important and integrated part of the Scandinavian infrastructure.”

Carsten Dilling, Chairman of SAS, said, “I’m both disappointed and sorry that Rickard wants to move on from his important role in SAS. At the same time on behalf of the Board of SAS, I want to thank Rickard for his fantastic performance during his ten years as President and CEO. Under Rickard’s management SAS has made a remarkable turnaround, from loss to several years of profitable performance. Recently he has led the company with safe hands in the first part of the toughest crisis in the company’s 75 year history, the pandemic. Most of all, Rickard will be remembered for his excellent leadership in SAS’s sustainability initiatives, which was the starting point for a new sustainability era in the whole aviation industry ... SAS is still in a critical - but stable position - and the board has of course immediately started the process to appoint a new President and CEO of SAS.”

Mr. Gustafson will succeed Alrik Danielson at AB SKF during the first half of 2021.

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