Club Lunch: A Conversation with Håkan Samuelsson President & CEO of Volvo Car Group

In post financial crisis 2010, Volvo Cars was sold in desperation by Ford Motor to a little known Chinese company called Geely Holdings. The last seven years has seen Volvo transform under Chinese ownership into a global premium car brand, achieving record sales and profitability. How was this managed? Where is the company going in the future? What does it say about modern China’s ability to own and develop global brands?

Håkan Samuelsson started his professional career in Scania in 1977 where he stayed for more than 20 years. He brought his vast truck experience from Scania to MAN in 2000, when he became head of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, a subsidiary of MAN AG. When Mr. Samuelsson became CEO of MAN in 2005, he initiated a broad restructuring of the group which resulted in an enhanced and more efficient organization with a more focused product portfolio. Mr. Samuelsson has served in Latin America and in multiple parts of Europe. As of October 19, 2012, Håkan Samuelsson is President & CEO of Volvo Car Group.

Mr. Samuelsson was in town at the same time as the Volvo Ocean Race, the first time that this race came to Hong Kong. This around-the-world sailing race was considered one of the toughest sport competitions in the world.