Volvo picks Northvolt exec to help with digital transformation

Volvo has turned to one of its partners to help with its digital shift.

The automaker has hired Fredrik Ohlsson from Northvolt, which is partnering with Volvo to make batteries for its next-generation electric cars via the Novo Energy joint venture.

As head of digital, Ohlsson will be part of Volvo's Group Management Team, which supports the automaker's top tier, the Executive Management Team.

Ohlsson succeeds Tobias Altehed, who is now head of Volvo Car Denmark. Altehed was named an Automotive News Europe Rising Star in 2023.

At Northvolt, Ohlsson lead the global information technology, data and business transformation teams, consisting of 260 employees, Volvo said.

Prior to that, Ohlsson worked at Northvolt, he had a long tenure at food packaging company Tetra Pak Group, where his roles included head of IT architecture and strategic enterprise architecture. At Tetra Pak, he established a new IT strategy that helped the company accelerate its digital transformation, Volvo said in a release on Aug. 22.

“Volvo Cars is entering an era of always connected cars that are designed to get better over time through software. Having a robust digital infrastructure will be crucial for us to succeed,” Volvo Chief Product and Strategy Officer Erik Severinsson said in the release. “Fredrik will be a key player on the team as we continue to maximize the potential of our digital landscape on this exciting journey.”

In reaction to starting the new job Ohlsson said: “Joining Volvo Cars and continuing to develop the digital backbone and capabilities needed for its ongoing business transformation is a perfect challenge. I think my previous experience, particularly in scaling digital infrastructure within large established companies, combined with the fast-paced startup mentality, will come in handy.”

It is the latest change to Volvo's top tiers of management.

In May, Volvo Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO Javier Varela left the company to join U.S. EV maker Rivian after eight years on the EMT. He started at Rivian last month.

Varela's departure has led to a shake-up of the EMT, boosting its size to nine members from seven.

The three members of Volvo's GMT that were promoted to the EMT were: Severinson; Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Anders Bell; and Chief Supply Chain Officer Francesca Gamboni.