We welcome Sabine Rosenblad and Håkan Westin, who have both joined as associate members in Stockholm and we asked them to introduce themselves:
Sabine Rosenblad: The story of my move to Sweden has become quite the anecdote in my family. My Swedish boyfriend worked on a contract with Ericsson that would end Dec 1993 after which he would return to Stockholm. We decided I would ask my employer at the time (P&G) for a transfer in March 1994, by then winter in Sweden would be over. Little would I guess that Nov 1, 1993 would be my first working day in Stockholm: less than two weeks after I took up the subject. P&G in Stockholm would have me, but only if I would move fast, which is what I did.
I have lived in Stockholm ever since, working in the absorbent hygiene industry. After Pampers and Always at P&G, I moved to Attends Healthcare in 2000. Products in our portfolio include a.o incontinence pads, bedsheets of all kinds and professional skin care products. In 2012 Attends Healthcare was acquired by Domtar Personal Care, a Pulp & Paper manufacturer with strong roots in North-America. I have worked as a Project Leader in the Supply Chain, as European Category Manager and as Head of the Internal Graphics Department. Since 2015 I am responsible for the Swedish Sales organisation. Our main business goes to healthcare units through public procurements which has given me a good insight in the Swedish phenomenon called LOU (Lagen om Offentlig Upphandling). If this all sounds a bit abstract: remember last autumn’s chaos with medical supplies to hospitals in mid-Sweden that paralyzed all their operations? That is the kind of business I work in.
My expectations of the Dutch Chamber? Meeting inspiring people, exchange stories and ideas and who knows, hopefully contributing with knowledge and experience after my 25+ years in the capital.
I look forward to meet you at the first event in February!
Sabine Rosenblad: The story of my move to Sweden has become quite the anecdote in my family. My Swedish boyfriend worked on a contract with Ericsson that would end Dec 1993 after which he would return to Stockholm. We decided I would ask my employer at the time (P&G) for a transfer in March 1994, by then winter in Sweden would be over. Little would I guess that Nov 1, 1993 would be my first working day in Stockholm: less than two weeks after I took up the subject. P&G in Stockholm would have me, but only if I would move fast, which is what I did.
I have lived in Stockholm ever since, working in the absorbent hygiene industry. After Pampers and Always at P&G, I moved to Attends Healthcare in 2000. Products in our portfolio include a.o incontinence pads, bedsheets of all kinds and professional skin care products. In 2012 Attends Healthcare was acquired by Domtar Personal Care, a Pulp & Paper manufacturer with strong roots in North-America. I have worked as a Project Leader in the Supply Chain, as European Category Manager and as Head of the Internal Graphics Department. Since 2015 I am responsible for the Swedish Sales organisation. Our main business goes to healthcare units through public procurements which has given me a good insight in the Swedish phenomenon called LOU (Lagen om Offentlig Upphandling). If this all sounds a bit abstract: remember last autumn’s chaos with medical supplies to hospitals in mid-Sweden that paralyzed all their operations? That is the kind of business I work in.
My expectations of the Dutch Chamber? Meeting inspiring people, exchange stories and ideas and who knows, hopefully contributing with knowledge and experience after my 25+ years in the capital.
I look forward to meet you at the first event in February!
Håkan Westin: On March 31, 2019 I took the final step and retired after some 40 years in Dutch and Norwegian companies. I have a love of the seas and after serving in the Navy (Kungliga Sjökrigsskolan) I began studies in Naval Architecture at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. After 2 degrees with a final Tekn.Dr. (Ph.D), I commenced working for Shell in the Hague in late 1980.
During the initial four years in the Netherlands I was in a deep-water development department and acquired a lot of experience in riser technology. I also managed to marry Christina and became father for the first time. In late 1984 we moved to Norway and I commenced working for Norsk Hydro in subsea technology.
Subsequently I worked as engineering manager for BrasNor AS, a joint venture between the Brazilian state company Petrobras and the Farsund Group in Norway. This eventually lead on to a return to the Netherlands for Wavin B.V., which at that time, was co-owned by Shell and Waterleiding Maatschappij Overijssel. Here I moved on from Technical Manager to Managing Director for Wavin R&D. Later I took over as Managing Director of Wavins plastic foil division and eventually sold this of.
Since late 2006 I have worked for Glamox AS, an international Norwegian based lighting company, in different capacities. With manufacturing facilities around the globe my areas of responsibilities in the Top Management team included manufacturing, logistics, purchasing etc.
After 5 years of weekly commuting between Oslo and Stockholm I now have moved back to Sweden and joined Christina on a permanently basis. Christina, who for some years worked for the “Zweedse Handelsdelegatie” in the Hague is currently employed by Stockholms City. Looking back at 17 years in The Netherlands we are all very grateful for the positive experience gained.
/Marion Norman
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