Follow us LOGIN Services Market Sectors About Kitron Investors For Suppliers Jobs and Careers Media Blog Contact us About Kitron Select the subject you are interested in or simply scroll down NEWS OUR PROMISES LOCATIONS VISION AND VALUES ETHICAL GUIDELINES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MANAGEMENT HISTORY Scandinavia’s leading EMS company Kitron is a leading Scandinavian Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company, delivering improved flexibility, cost efficiency, and innovation power through the value chain. The company has operations in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, China and the United States. Kitron was established in the early 1960s in Arendal, Norway. Kitron’s head office is now in Asker, Norway. The company’s core areas of expertise are in the sectors of Connectivity, Electrification, Industry, Medical devices and Defence/Aerospace. In addition, Kitron is currently developing expertise in Automotive Electronics with a special focus on Autonomous Technologies. 1800+ Employees 100+ Engineers 7 Locations 55+ Years of history 20+ SMT lines 50 000+ Sq. m. of manufacturing area Kitron's Technical Innovations Kitron specialises in complex products and manufacturing processes. The company also has a high level of specialist expertise in the fields of technology and industrialisation. Kitron provides services within the entire value chain of electronics production, ranging from development and design, industrialisation and manufacturing to service/repair and product upgrades. Development Industrialisation Sourcing and Procurement Manufacturing Logistics and Distribution Redesign, Repair and Maintenance Product Deployment VISION AND VALUES Kitron’s vision is to provide solutions that deliver success for its customers. Kitron shall contribute to developing customers` businesses to become leading companies within their respective markets. Your ambition. Our passion. Our values are: Commitment At Kitron, we are committed to customers, suppliers, shareholders, colleagues, sustainability and the environment. Innovation At Kitron, we foster creativity, striving for even better processes, services and solutions, benefiting both our customers and employees. Engagement At Kitron, individuals and teams are provided equal opportunities for growth, development and realization of their potentials. ETHICAL GUIDELINES Ethical conduct is essential for sustainable business and we treat ethics as an integral part of our activities. We expect high ethical standards of everyone who acts on our behalf, and we encourage our business partners to implement ethics standards compatible with our own. Kitron Ethical Code of Conduct Kitron Anti Corruption Policy Kitron Supplier Code of Conduct Board of Directors Tuomo Lähdesmäki Chairman of the Board Elected for the period 2020-2021 Tuomo Lähdesmäki was born in 1957 and is a Finnish citizen. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering from Helsinki University of Technology, a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD and has completed the Stanford Executive Program. He is a founding partner of Boardman Oy, “The leading network developing active ownership and board work competences” in Finland, and he has previously, inter alia, been President and CEO of Elcoteq Network Oyj and Leiras Oy, General Manager at Swatch Group and Vice President at Nokia Mobile Phones. Mr Lähdesmäki is Chairman of the board for the following: Enedo Oyj, Sievi Capital Oyj and Turku University Foundation sr. He is also Vice Chairman of the board of Fondia Oyj and Meconet Oy. Mr Lähdesmäki was elected to the Kitron Board as Chairman in 2014 and is also Chairman of Kitron’s remuneration committee. On 22nd May 2020, Mr Lähdesmäki owned 215 864 shares in Kitron. Gro Brækken Deputy chairman of the Board Elected for the period 2020-2021 Gro Brækken was born in 1952 and is a Norwegian citizen. She holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Ms Brækken has a long and broad experience from top management of international companies and organizations with CEO, line, and staff-management experience within oil and gas, refinery, shipbuilding, banking and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. She was until recently CEO of the Industry organization Norsk olje & gass (the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association) and is at present Secretary-General for the Norwegian Institute of Directors. This background has given her in-depth industrial and political competence and a broad network within politics, business and society in general. Gro Brækken also has solid board experience as a member and chair of the boards of directors of national and international companies and organizations within energy, industry, project management, health and NGOs. Ms Brækken was elected to the Kitron board in 2015 and has since October 2015 been a member of the remuneration committee. On 22nd May 2020, Ms Brækken owned 43 147 shares in Kitron. Maalfrid Brath Board member Elected for the period 2020-2021 Maalfrid Brath was born in 1965 and is a Norwegian citizen. She holds an MSc degree from BI Norwegian Business School in economics and business administration and an MSc degree from NHH Norwegian School of Economics in professional accountancy. Ms Brath has since 2009 been Managing Director of Manpower Group Norway and since 2019 she has also been Regional Managing Director of Nordic &Baltics. From 1995 to 2009, she held various executive management positions at Storebrand ASA, including EVP Business Development, EVP Retail, COO of Storebrand Livsforsikring and CEO of Storebrand Fondsforsikring. Prior to 1995, she was Manager at Arthur Andersen. She sits on a number of boards including The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. Ms Brath was elected to the Kitron board in 2018. On 22nd May 2020, Ms Brath owned 19 147 shares in Kitron. Espen Gundersen Board member Elected for the period 2020-2021 Espen Gundersen was born in 1964 and is a Norwegian citizen. He holds an MBA from the Norwegian School of Management, Oslo. He is also a Certified Public Accountant from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen. Mr Gundersen is currently Deputy CEO and CFO of Tomra Systems ASA. He joined Tomra in 1999 and has held several positions within the Tomra Group. Prior to joining Tomra, he served as VP Business Development of Selmer ASA for five years. He started his career with Arthur Andersen in 1989. Mr Gundersen was elected to the Kitron Board in 2017 and is a board member in Hexagon Purus ASA. On 22nd May 2020, Mr Gundersen owned 49 147 shares in Kitron. Christian Jebsen Board member Elected for period 2020-2021 Christian Jebsen was born in 1967 and is a Danish citizen. He holds a B.S. degree in economics and a B.A. from Copenhagen Business School. Mr Jebsen is a partner at Verdane Capital. Prior to Verdane, Jebsen has had a number of executive management positions including CEO of Kebony AS, CEO of Vmetro ASA, CFO/COO of Opera Software ASA and CEO of Stavdal ASA. Jebsen’s professional background also includes seven years in investment banking with Nomura International in London and Enskilda Securities (SEB) in Stockholm and Oslo. Mr Jebsen was elected to the Kitron board in 2018. On 22nd May 2020, Mr Jebsen owned 19 147 shares in Kitron. Petra Grandinson Board member Elected for the period 2020-2021 Petra was born in 1968 and is a Swedish citizen. She holds a Master of Science in Vehicle engineering, System technologies from the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. Ms Grandinson is currently a Vice President Supply Chain at Epiroc Rockdrills AB and has a combination of operations and commercial experience, having worked with advanced electrical hand tools, larger capital equipment and technology infrastructure products and solutions. This includes first-hand knowledge as a customer of Electronic Manufacturing Services. She also brings international experience, having lived in China for five years and currently living in the UK for three years. She has had significant exposure to R&D organisations. Ms Grandinson was elected to the Kitron board in 2020. On 22nd May 2020, Ms Grandinson owned 9 081 shares in Kitron. Bjørn Gottschlich Board member, elected by and among the employees Bjørn Gottschlich was born in 1966 and is a German citizen. He was employed as an unskilled production worker in 1996. In 2000 he was elected as a full-time shop steward for Fellesforbundet (The Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions) at Kitron AS in Arendal. He is now half redeemed from his position at Kitron to perform various duties in his trade union. Bjørn is chair of Fellesforbundet’s local union branch in Arendal. He is also elected representative on Fellesforbundet’s National Delegates’ Meeting and a member of LO’s General Council. Mr Gottschlich has been on the Kitron board since 2012. On 22nd May 2020, Mr Gottschlich owned 19 347 shares in Kitron. Tanja Rørheim Board member, elected by and among the employees Tanja Rørheim was born in 1972 and is a Norwegian citizen. She holds a certificate in electronics and is working as a production worker at Kitron AS in Arendal since 1993. Ms Rørheim has been on the Kitron board since August 2015. On 22nd May 2020, Ms Rørheim owned 19 147 shares in Kitron. Jarle Larsen Board member, elected by and among the employee Jarle Larsen was born in 1973 and is a Norwegian citizen. He has a background as an Electronics Engineer and joined Kitron AS in 2007. Mr Larsen works as a Senior Lean Engineer. In 2010 he was elected as leader for Nito at Kitron AS (The Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists). He still holds this position. Mr Larsen was elected to the Kitron board in 2019. On 22nd May 2020, Mr Larsen owned 12 491 shares in Kitron. Management Peter Nilsson President & CEO Born in 1964. CEO of Kitron since November 2014. Several senior and executive leadership positions for Swedish and US companies. Mr Nilsson holds a degree in Industrial Management and is a Swedish citizen. Peter Nilsson owns 2 079 182 shares and has 760 000 Stock options in Kitron. Cathrin Nylander CFO Born in 1967. Joined Kitron in 2013. Extensive experience as CFO in various industries such as manufacturing, IT, food industry, and financial services. Ms Nylander holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Lund University in Sweden and is a Swedish citizen. Cathrin Nylander owns 868 752 shares and has 270 000 Stock options in Kitron. Kristoffer Asklöv COO Born in 1977. Joined Kitron in 2021. Mr Asklõv has more than 20 years of experience in electronics production and has an Executive MBA in Leadership & Management and also an M.Sc in Product Development / Industrial design from the University of Linköping. Kristoffer Asklöv is a Swedish citizen. Stian Haugen CTO Born in 1976 and is a Norwegian citizen. Mr. Haugen joined Kitron in 2013 managing the technology department of Kitron AS, Arendal. He has extensive experience in international R&D and customer support and holds a B.sc in computer science from Agder University, Norway. Stian Haugen owns 120 000 stock options in Kitron. Zygimantas Dirse Managing Director, Kitron Electronics Manufacturing (Ningbo) CO Ltd., China Born in 1980. With Kitron since 2003. Mr Dirse has broad experience from different international positions in the company and holds a Master of Science in Informatics Technology. Zygimantas Dirse is a Lithuanian citizen. Zygimantas Dirse owns 452 622 shares and has 270 000 Stock options in Kitron. Stefan Hansson Mutas Managing Director, Kitron AB, Sweden Born in 1966. With Kitron since 2017. Mr Hansson Mutas has a background in management positions at several electronics and EMS companies. Stefan Hansson Mutas is a Swedish citizen. Stefan Hansson Mutas owns 219 261 shares and has 270 000 Stock options in Kitron. Mindaugas Sestokas Managing Director, UAB Kitron, Lithuania & VP Central Eastern Europe Born in 1971. He has been with Kitron since 2008 and is a Lithuanian citizen. He holds a Master of Business Administration and has diverse experience from sales and marketing in the food and beverage industry and general management of an appliance manufacturing company. Mindaugas Sestokas owns 316 978 shares and has 270 000 Stock options in Kitron. Hans Petter Thomassen Managing Director, Kitron AS, Norway & VP North America Born in 1965. He joined Kitron in 2012. Mr Thomassen has extensive experience within manufacturing and logistics and has held several senior-level positions, included CEO. He also has experience in commercial aviation. Hans Petter Thomassen is a Norwegian citizen. Hans Petter Thomassen owns 431 770 shares and has 270 000 Stock options in Kitron. HISTORY Forerunner started 1962 1980‘s EMS model 1980 Oslo Stock Exchange 1997 Entered Sweden 1999 Entered Lithuania 2001 Entered China 2007 Entered Germany, USA 2010 Expanded Lithuania 2014 New facility Arendal 2016 New facility Jönköping 2017 New site Kitron Technologies Inc. USA 2019 Entered Poland 2019 Kitron has its origin from the companies Statronic and Electric Bureau, both of which were established in the 1960s in Arendal, Norway. The Kitron name was established in the 1980s, and Kitron’s business idea changed to contract manufacturing of electronics. The business idea has since been extended to include the entire value chain involving the manufacturing and assembly of electronics and industrial products containing electronics. Today, Kitron consists of businesses that have their origin in several leading industrial companies, for instance, Kongsberg Gruppen, Ericsson, Bofors and Saab. Kitron was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 1997. To strengthen its market position and competence, Kitron has carried out several mergers and acquisitions, in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and, most recently, the United States. In 2000, Kitron merged with Sonec ASA. Kitron acquired UAB Kitron in Lithuania in 2001 and UAB Kitron Elsis in 2007. The same year Kitron established a sourcing organisation in Ningbo, China. In June 2009, a small German EMS company was acquired. In 2010, Kitron established Kitron Electronics Manufacturing in Ningbo and Kitron Inc. in the USA. In 2019, Kitron completed the acquisition of the EMS division of API Technologies Corp. located in Windber, Pennsylvania, substantially strengthening Kitron’s position in the US market. The operation was renamed Kitron Technologies Inc. Also in 2019, Kitron inaugurated a new factory in Grudziądz, Poland, to build on the strong growth of the Lithuanian operation. Let‘s keep in touch Sign up for latest press releases or stock market announcements SUBSCRIBE © Kitron ASA 2018-2021 Privacy policyContact us Follow us OUR COOKIE POLICY This website uses cookies to optimize your experience. By closing this message, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about cookies by visiting our privacy page. ACCEPT & CLOSE