Gunnar Wieslander new head of Saab Kockums

The former commander of the First Submarine Flotilla will take up the position on 1 September.

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 programme, where Saab's competence in design development, construction and system expertise will be combined in one product. Today, Saab announces that Wieslander has been employed, and from 1 September he will be head of Saab Kockums, a part of the 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.

Wieslander has long-term experience in marine operations through his work as a Swedish Navy captain since 1984. Wieslander has served on submarines of Draken, Sj�ormen, Västerg�tland 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 Bj�rling, 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. Therefore, I'm very happy to be able to recruit him," says Fransson.

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