FAREWELL TO NEW YORK, GOTHENBURG, HERE I COME!

 Everything in life eventually comes to an end. So does my term as the President of Volvo Group North America, based in New York City. After eight years abroad, five of these in Brussels, Belgium, and three in the United States, I have decided to move back to Sweden, as of June 1, 2010.



My objective, when I took the helm here was to add responsibilities to the ambassador’s role this office has always had and make it more operational. My focus was to introduce new strategy, structure, and culture to the office and clearly define what we do and how we carry out our strategic objectives. My task has been quite clear; to enhance Volvo Group visibility, to bring this office closer to our businesses and to create value for our business areas and business units. Together with the team in New York City and in Washington, I believe we accomplished this. Action completed, case closed!


The Volvo Group North America blog “Off the cuff” will now be taken over by my successor, Mr. Salvatore L. Mauro. He will take over as the President of Volvo Group North America on Monday, May 17, 2010.




I will be returning to the Volvo Group Headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden at the end of May and will continue blogging from there. You can find my blog titled Stefan’s Sidebar at http://stefanssidebar.blogspot.com.




See you there!




As I leave New York, I would like my friends and colleagues to know that I am indeed leaving the U.S., but I will never, ever leave you in my heart!




A famous quote comes to mind by General Lucius D. Clay, who was in charge of the Berlin Airlift in1948-49, when he left West Berlin in May 1, 1962:




“I shall not now, or ever, say goodbye, for ‘New York and the USA’ is too much a part of me to ever leave. I shall only say so long, thank you and God bless you".