Bertland to step down as Beijer Ref CEO
27th January 2021
SWEDEN: Per Bertland is to step down as CEO of refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler Beijer Ref.
Bertland, who has overseen the company’s worldwide expansion over the last eight years, will leave when a successor has been found or during the latter part of this year at the latest.
Following today’s announcement, Beijer Ref’s largest shareholder, EQT Private Equity, is to call for a general meeting to nominate Bertland as a member of the company’s board of directors.
Commenting on the surprise announcement, Beijer Ref chairman Bernt Ingman, paid tribute to Bertland’s “outstanding contributions” to Beijer Ref. “Today, the company is a market-leader with presence in 37 countries and Beijer Ref has enjoyed several years of strong growth in both sales and earnings during Per’s tenure as CEO,” he said. “The Board and I regret that Per has chosen to step down but we fully respect his decision to retire from his operational position. The search for a successor will now begin”.
Per Bertland declared: “It is with mixed emotions I am taking this step, as I have much enjoyed being part of the journey to make our company a world-leading distributor with a strong sustainability focus.
“Beijer Ref has a strong culture and I have truly enjoyed working with all my fantastic colleagues around the world. Today, the company is stronger than ever and I have therefore made the decision that now is the right time to initiate an orderly transition of leadership.”
He confirmed that, if elected by the shareholders, his ambition was to remain active within Beijer Ref as a member of the board of directors. “I believe that I can continue to contribute to future growth and success for Beijer Ref through my industry network and experience,” he said.
Per Bertland was appointed MD and CEO of G&L Beijer – as the company was then called – in 2013. He succeeded Joen Magnusson who had been in the role for 30 years. Bertrand originally joined the G & L Beijer Group in 1990.
