At Gotlandsbolaget, Björn Nilsson, currently deputy chairman of the board, will assume the role of CEO on 7 July 2025. Håkan Johansson, the current CEO, will transition to deputy CEO and take on the role of CEO at Destination Gotland with immediate effect. Marcus Risberg, previously CEO of Destination Gotland, will leave to become CEO of Viking Line Abp no later than 1 January 2026, succeeding Jan Hanses, who will retire after 11 years as CEO and 38 years with Viking Line. On the Gotlandsbolaget board, Lars Wedenborn will become chairman and Ann-Marie Åström deputy chairman, effective immediately following the company’s annual general meeting on 10 June 2025.

Björn Nilsson brings extensive experience from the banking and venture capital sectors, having worked with numerous companies in Sweden and internationally, including in the maritime industry. As deputy chairman since 2018 and a majority shareholder alongside his siblings and mother, Nilsson has deep ties to Gotlandsbolaget. “Gotlandsbolaget has been part of our family since my early childhood, and I have followed my father Eric D. Nilsson and my siblings’ significant contributions to the company from afar. Together with Håkan and all employees, I now look forward to further developing Gotlandsbolaget,” Nilsson said.

Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotlandsbolaget since 2011 and previously its chief financial officer, commented: “This will further strengthen our management team, and I greatly look forward to working with Björn in our development moving forward. I want to thank Marcus Risberg for his efforts and wish him the best of luck in his new role at Viking Line.”

Lars Wedenborn, a board member since 2021 with a background as CEO of the Wallenberg Foundations’ FAM, CFO at Investor AB, and current chairman of AMF, added: “As a Gotlander, I have always followed Gotlandsbolaget’s operations. These changes represent a clear strengthening of our management team, and I greatly look forward to leading the board’s work for the company’s future development.”

At Viking Line, Marcus Risberg’s appointment as CEO follows a thorough recruitment process by the board. Risberg, who has held leadership roles at Destination Gotland and Tallink Silja, was born in Finland and raised on the Åland Islands, bringing a deep understanding of the region’s maritime culture. Jakob Johansson, chairman of Viking Line’s board, stated: “We are very pleased to welcome Marcus Risberg as the new CEO. His expertise, leadership, and cultural understanding make him the right person to lead the company into the next phase.”

Risberg expressed his enthusiasm: “It is with great pride and humility that I take on the role of CEO of Viking Line. The company has a long and proud history in Baltic Sea traffic, and I look forward to continuing to develop the business with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and customer experience together with the team.”

Jan Hanses will remain in an advisory role during the transition and has served on Viking Line’s board since the annual general meeting on 24 April 2025.

These changes signal a new chapter for both Gotlandsbolaget and Viking Line, with leadership transitions aimed at driving innovation and growth in the maritime sector.

© Shippax