Ulf Gustavsson

European Organization for Qvality (EOQ), Brussel, Belgium

2020 – Present

Secretary General (CEO)

The European Organization for Quality, EOQ, is the European interdisciplinary organization striving for effective improvement in the sphere of quality in its broadest sense acting as the coordinating body and catalyst of its 28 National Representative Organizations (NRs). The EOQ network covering organizations from European countries and all over the world linking thousands of experts and companies in the field of quality. The Secretary General reports to the Executive Board represented by the EOQ President.

EOQ shall promote the use of Quality Management as per our mission and strategies. EOQ value creation for members is to offer a common platform and solution for their:

• Needs for information and communication to authorities and international stakeholders
• Branding, profiling and marketing of EOQ
• Respective national markets harmonized products and services

EOQ Vision: Europe’s leading promoter of Quality by extending its sphere of influence through entire Europe and beyond

EOQ Mission: Improve European society through the promotion of Quality in its broadest sense

EOQ is a European non-profit Association of National Representative Organizations in Europe.

Website: www.eoq.org

Gustavum AB, Malmö, Sweden

2018 – Present

Investment, Consulting & Advising

FOUNDER & CEO
Investing in Real Estate, start-ups and delivery of world class Management Consulting, Interim Management, Business transformation (Digitalization), Knowledge Management and Key note speaker.

Website: Gustavum.com

Qvalify Group AB, Qvalify AB, Qvalify Inspection AB, Jönköping, Sweden

Oct 2022 – Present Interim CEO and President

Apr 2020-Present Chairman of the Board

Apr 2019- Apr 2020 Board Member

QVALIFY IN BRIEF:
Qvalify AB is one of the biggest Swedish independent certification body for management systems, including the areas of quality, sustainability and work environment. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001 are examples of standards according to which Qvalify performs certification. Qvalify is also active in the areas of independent review and competence development.

Qvalify has its registered office / head office in Jönköping. Offices are also available in Stockholm and Gothenburg. The company was founded in 1992 and owned by SFK (Svenska Förbundet för Kvalitet), the Swedish Association for Quality. SFK is a non-profit association that works with quality and sustainability in Sweden.

SFK Utveckling AB, Sweden
(SFK – Svenska Förbundet för Kvalitet)

Apr 2019 – Apr 2020

Chairman of the Board

The company conducts consulting in the quality area as well as chancellor activities for the Swedish Association for Quality, SFK, and related activities.
Together with the Chairman for Swedish Association for Quality part of the Operational Committee.

During the period in the role:
– Increased income significantly in relation to previous year
– Decreased cost significantly in relation to previous year

Housing Society Piren, Malmö, Sweden

May 2018 – June 2020

Dockan, Krankajen, Malmö

Board Member

Website: brfpiren.se

Syncorder, Denmark

Jan 2019 – Dec 2019

Connect – Synchronize – Collaborate

CEO

Syncorder is a new approach to supply chain management. Syncorder is an expanding supply chain service company. A company’s value chain is connected with suppliers and customers in an easy and productive way – a new synthesis between EDI, ERP and the social media network model. All process and application design is based on best practice in Supply Chain Management, systems and user interface design.
Using the ultimate on line transparency and synchronizing features of Syncorder means that companies will realize cost savings for order management, inventories, transportation and capacity utilization in production and warehouses. Syncorder improves the service level performance to customers, thus delivering higher customer satisfaction.

Syncorder is convenient to work with, it guides the order process and makes the relevant information visible at the same time for both vendor and buyer. The information is available both on web and on mobile devices at the same time. Working with Syncorder ensure the companies always have support to solve problems arising during the order process.

Words from the CEO of Syncorder
”Our solution is built on the latest technology with an aim to facilitate order processing. Regardless of the current state of your company’s digital landscape we offer a system integration that enables transparency of the supply chain as a whole. This is our contribution to simplify a complex world.”
Ulf Gustavsson
CEO, Syncorder ApS

During the year as CEO the:
– Turn over increased significantly in relation to the year before
– Cost decreased significantly in relation to the year before
– Solutions were upgraded regarding front end, user interface and user experience.

IKEA Group, Malmö, Sweden

2016 – 2018

World’s largest furniture retailer, manufacturer and marketer of moderately priced, innovatively designed and stylish home furnishings with 403 stores in 49 countries, 194,000 employees and revenues of €38.3B.

Global Learning & Development Manager

Area of responsibility:

• Establish common ways of working in line with our overall directions and strategies for a successful transformation to become a multichannel retailer including change management.
• Create a strategic and sustainable solution for all business development. Done with both business and people in mind with the aim to exceed our customers’ expectations.

Inter IKEA Systems. B.V, Delft, the Netherlands

2011 – 2016

Franchisor for the world’s largest furniture retailer, manufacturer and marketer of designed and stylish home furnishings with 385 stores in 48 countries, 175,000 employees and revenues of €33.8B.

Department Head for Global Programme Managers

One of the main tasks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. is to transfer IKEA competence to all IKEA retailers worldwide, enabling them to successfully operate the IKEA concept.

• Establish an office in the region of Asia Pacific.
• During a year part of the Store management team in Amsterdam.

MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, LLC, Miramar, FL, USA

2010 – 2011

Global telecom offering mobile telephone services in 14 countries with 38.5M customers throughout Central and South America, Africa and Asia. Annual revenues of almost $1.1B and 7,500 employees plus 20,000 agents.

Global Performance and Development Manager

Responsible for creation and execution of business plans to expand Millicom services to new areas in LatAm and Africa; direct HR and all other functions required to expand services.

• Personally developed, implemented successful new performance management system including personally training 550 managers and 150 trainers to provide data needed to ensure achievement of company goals.
• Completed comprehensive management review across 12 countries in LatAm and Africa including personally interviewing 450 senior manager potentials to create action plan for 2011.
• Led creation, execution of innovative programs to improve key functions and staff including category managers and go-to-market teams.

IKEA Group, Älmhult, Sweden

2005 – 2010

World’s largest furniture retailer, manufacturer and marketer of moderately priced, innovatively designed and stylish home furnishings with 313 stores in 38 countries, 130,000 employees and revenues of €23.5B.

Global Manager, IKEA Learning Centre/Learning & Development Manager, IKEA Supply Chain

Directed training and development programs for all 130.000 employees with a specific focus on the 30,000 supply chain employees. Focus on turning company business goals into actionable training programs to ensure alignment of training with strategic expansion plans and revenue growth; key in developing, expanding online/digital learning. Reported to HR Director, responsible for country L&D managers and trainers. Created entirely new L&D site in China.

• Successfully transformed company strategic objectives into actionable learning/development programs for global IKEA (supply chain) operations.
• Key member of steering group developing digital/online learning strategy for entire corporation, leading to first global, corporate-wide digital Learning Management System.
• As manager for ILC responsible for implementation of the digital/online learning tool.
• Maintained 93% Leadership Survey score versus 65% average company wide.
• Created and implemented leadership capabilities and programs for all 17,000 IKEA managers worldwide led project to successfully implement program across 38 countries.

SWEDISH ASSOCIATION FOR QUALITY, Sweden

2003 – 2005

Country-wide organization offering quality enhancement services to Swedish businesses including operations consulting, ISO certification, training and information resources. Composed of an education/research not-for-profit unit with 2,000 members and for-profit consulting, development and ISO/lean operations certification units throughout Sweden.

President and Chairman of the Board

Youngest Association leader since origin in 1952. Asked by board to take on leadership at age 30. Successfully resolved conflicts between not-for-profit arm and for-profit units using exceptional diplomatic, relationship management and negotiation abilities. Focus on re-aligning organization with current market needs and conditions resulting in significant membership value growth. Responsible for all daily operations including coordination of activities between four separate units over nine regions.

• Successful change leader for important country-wide business organization at age of 30.
• Brought all units across nine geographical regions into successful alignment and coordinated strategy, programs and operations, improving organizational effectiveness and reducing costs up to 25%.
• Created new Association consulting arm with effective new products/services.

DEPENDUM AB, Stockholm and Malmö, Sweden

2001 – 2005

Management consulting company offering operations streamlining, lean operations and process efficiency services to Swedish businesses.

Founder & CEO

Ulf Gustavsson started successful consulting company at age 29 focusing on very large government contracts to optimize, streamline systems and processes for the national tax authority, the national pharmaceutical organization and other clients. Successfully built thriving business and gained major government contracts despite fierce competition from much larger, long-established competitors. Led system efficiency evaluation, training, “train-the-trainer” programs for government and commercial clients.

• Closed large, Swedish government contracts in face of competition from much larger, longer-established and better known consulting competitors.

Previous jobs in short: Account manager – BI Utbildningshuset AB (1999-2001), Military Officer, Lieutenant – Lapplands Jägarregemente (1993-2000), Day Manager – Wallmans Salonger (1991-1993)