Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson was appointed vice chairman of the board at the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) on 15 June 2023, the company announced in a press release.
The company noted that Johansson’s appointment “comes at a time when defence and security in Europe are more important than they have been in decades, and where the European defence industry is seen as a crucial component for maintaining peace in the region”.
“It is an honour to be elected to this position by my CEO peers and the national associations of ASD,” Johansson was quoted as saying. “I very much look forward to helping to steer ASD in these challenging times for Europe, together with the newly elected ASD President and Chairman of the board, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.”
“Through my role as Vice Chairman of the board at ASD, I will be able to advocate for ASD’s interests, drive concrete initiatives, and foster the technological advancements necessary to address emerging security challenges in Europe,” Johansson added.
ASD represents the European aerospace, defence and security industries, mainly in relation to EU institutions but also on a global level in relation to other international bodies of importance to the sector. It serves as a collective voice for more than 3,000 companies, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to larger corporations.
ASD members together employ 879,000 people and generated a turnover of EUR 238 billion in 2021. The organisation works closely with policymakers, institutions, and other stakeholders to foster a secure and innovative defence industry ecosystem in Europe.
Peter Felstead