“A guarantor for industry in the Gulf of Bothnia”
Today, Ragnar Johansson handed over the position of CEO for WALLENIUS SOL to Elvir Dzanic, formerly the CEO for the Port of Gothenburg.
So what does WALLENIUS SOL’s new CEO know about logistics? And what does he mean when he says that WALLENIUS SOL will safeguard the future for the industries in the Gulf of Bothnia? We checked in with him.
Hi Elvir. Your first day as CEO for WALLENIUS SOL. How does it feel?
“Fabulous! I just found the coffee machine. But seriously, in an age when the world is suffering so much misfortune, few people get the opportunity to help build something as unique as an innovative, commercial shipping line that regards itself as infrastructural. Taking part in this journey is incredibly inspiring.”
You have extensive experience in logistics; tell us about it.
“I’ve had the benefit of working with many parts of the logistics chain. I’ve organized overland haulage and ocean freight, learned the customer’s perspective from the sales side, and I’ve also worked with warehousing operations. This has given me an understanding of the entire value chain. Now I’m looking forward to helping expand our partnerships with others to find value creating end-to-end solutions for the new ecosystem that are popping up around the Gulf of Bothnia.”
“I don’t believe even I had realized how extremely important this company will be for the initiatives taking place in the Gulf of Bothnia”
What role will shipping play in the Gulf of Bothnia moving forward?
“The industries around the Gulf of Bothnia are export-dependent. For these companies to succeed, it’s not enough to set up in places where there is green electricity; green transportation is also necessary. The huge amount of goods flowing from their production must reach the world at large, and as the goods will not remain in Sweden and Finland, land infrastructure will not suffice. This is where WALLENIUS SOL comes in as a guarantor for industry in the Gulf of Bothnia, and for its future in Sweden and Finland.”
If we look at shipping in general, what is the industry’s biggest challenge in your opinion?
“The world is undergoing an important transition, and our industry is lagging behind. Now we aim to catch up. As a young company, WALLENIUS SOL has created a shipping line that is not only keeping up with environmental and climate requirements, but is rather at the cutting edge. While we won’t be ready by 2025 or 2027, we aim to challenge IMO’s 2050 goal. Our customers deserve it. Our owners want it, and by 2035 WALLENIUS SOL will not have any harmful impact on our environment.”
What will you be focusing on this autumn?
“I’ll be going on a roadshow to meet our existing and future customers. I don’t believe even I had realized how extremely important this company will be for the initiatives taking place in the Gulf of Bothnia, and so my top priority will be getting to know our customers and their needs. My other priority will be getting to know my new colleagues. There’s a fabulous future potential in the infrastructure we’re creating together.”
