Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. On the Move
January 19, 2023 05:50 AM

Volvo's onetime CTO Henrik Green resigns; second top management change this month

The high-ranking executive, who until last year was considered a strong candidate to rise to CEO at the automaker, will leave the company at the end of the month.

Douglas A. Bolduc
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Volvo Henrik Green

    During former CEO Hakan Samuelsson's tenure as boss Green was promoted six times within eight years. His previous posts included chief technology officer, chief product officer and head of R&D.

    High-ranking Volvo Cars executive Henrik Green, who until last year was considered a strong candidate to rise to CEO at the automaker, will leave the company at the end of the month.

    Green's position, head of advanced technology and sustainability, will be dissolved and his responsibilities will be distributed to other parts of the business.

    Aspects of his work related to advanced technology will move into the R&D division, the company said. That part of the business is led by deputy CEO Javier Varela.

    Green's work in the areas of charging and energy management will move under Volvo's commercial organization, which is headed by deputy CEO Bjorn Annwall.

    Green's sustainability responsibilities will be overseen by Volvo CEO Jim Rowan, the company said, which added that the moves will help simplify the automaker's management structure.

    6 promotions in 8 years

    At the start of 2022, Green, 49, was Volvo's chief product officer, one of the many key titles he has held during nearly 30 years with the company.

    During former CEO Hakan Samuelsson's decade-long tenure as boss, Green was promoted six times within eight years. His previous posts included chief technology officer and head of R&D.

    After fathering Volvo’s successful Drive-E engine line, he was promoted in 2011 to the executive management team at Volvo China, where he served two years as vice president of product strategy.

    He joined Volvo's top board, the executive management team, in 2016 as head of R&D. In 2019, he was promoted to chief technology officer.

    Green was named a 2019 Eurostar by Automotive News Europe because of his work developing what Samuelsson called the strongest vehicle lineup in the company’s history.

    Under Green, the XC60 was named 2018 World Car of the Year, the XC40 won the 2018 European Car of the Year award, and Volvo became a key player in the plug-in hybrid and full-electric vehicle sectors.

    Change in plans

    Green's rapid rise up Volvo's organizational chart ended a year ago when the company went outside its internal ranks and chose former Dyson and Blackberry executive Jim Rowan to succeed Samuelsson as CEO.

    The first outward sign that Green's vertical trajectory had reached its height came in June when he was passed over for one of the two deputy CEO posts Volvo created, which went to Annwall, 47, and Varela, 58.

    In addition, Green was one of four people who were moved off the executive management team to a lower tier called the group management team.

    Another person moved downward last June was Volvo Americas boss Anders Gustafsson, 54, who will be succeeded March 1 by Michael Cottone, 43, according to Automotive News Europe sister publication Automotive News.

    The change is part of Volvo's restructuring of its Americas business, which includes spinning the U.S. and Canada markets into a separate unit.

    Michael Cottone, a 21-year Volvo veteran and Western Region vice president, will take over the top job in the U.S. and Canada.

    New paths

    In a LinkedIn post last week Green said he had decided to "part ways with friends, colleagues, and a company I love and have loved for more than 27 years. Our paths will no longer flow together 24/7 towards all-electric, fully computerized modern mobility flagships."
     
    He went on to say Volvo is headed toward "an amazing future" and said he expected to meet with Volvo colleagues "on our future journeys, at crossroads yet to be discovered."

    He did not reveal where his next stop would be in his post.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Peugeot, Jeep get new Europe bosses
    Recommended for You
    Eric Laforge
    Peugeot, Jeep get new Europe bosses
    Mercedes Drew Slaven
    Mercedes USA marketing boss Drew Slaven departs
    Leoni CEO Aldo Kamper at ANE Congress 2022
    Leoni's Ukraine crisis CEO Kamper hired by AMS Osram
    Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sponsored Content: Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us