Gunnar Wieslander new Head of Saab Kockums

Defence and security company Saab has appointed Gunnar Wieslander, former Commander of the First submarine flotilla and State Secretary, as new Head of Saab Kockums. Gunnar Wieslander is employed from 20 April, 2015 but takes up the position on 1 September, 2015.

Saab is now preparing to receive an order for the next generation submarine, A26. It is the world’s most modern submarine program where Saab’s competence in design development, construction and system expertise will be combined in one product. Today, Saab announces that Gunnar Wieslander has been employed and from 1 September he will be head of Saab Kockums, a part of business area within Security and Defence Solutions.

"Gunnar Wieslander has the right background to continue developing the business unit, Saab Kockums. The task is to deliver on Saab’s commitments to develop and produce next-generation submarine, A26, and to conduct the lifetime extensions. Added to this Saab has the ambition of future export and to develop the business in surface vessels”, says Gunilla Fransson, Head of business area Security and Defence Solutions.

Gunnar Wieslander has a long experience in marine operations through his work as a Swedish Navy captain since 1984. Gunnar Wieslander has served on submarines of Draken- Sjöormen-, Västergötland class and as Commanding Officer of all three Gotland class submarines. He has also been Commander of the First Submarine Flotilla as well as instructor at the National Defence College in military strategy and security.

In recent years he has been working for the Swedish government. He served as Secretary of State for Trade minister, Ewa Björling and then as Secretary of State for the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt.

"Gunnar Wieslander’s knowledge about marine operations is important in the position we are expecting. Therefor I’m very happy to be able to do this recruitment,” says Gunilla Fransson.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

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