Andreas Nilsson takes up the position of CEO of Knowit's subsidiary Dataunit. In an interview with Nordic Defence Sector, he talks about his background, his new role, and the issues at the top of his agenda going forward.
What is your background?
I have a background in the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), where I worked with command and control systems and communications systems, primarily within the aviation domain. For the past two and a half years I have been working at Knowit as Head of Defence, a role that continues in parallel with my new assignment as CEO of Knowit Dataunit. The combination gives me both operational experience and an understanding of the defence sector's needs.
Why did you choose to continue working in the defence sector after your career in the Swedish Armed Forces?
Contributing to Sweden's security has always been important to me. At Knowit, I was given the opportunity to work closely with the sector and continue driving innovation and development forward, strengthening defence capability and deepening our understanding of our customers' needs. It inspires me to have the opportunity to contribute to our collective security.
What drew you to the position at Knowit Dataunit?
I was attracted by the opportunity to combine my responsibility for the defence domain with leading a company that sits at the intersection of data, technology, and security. It is a unique opportunity to develop both the organisation and our offering to customers.
What does your new role entail?
As CEO, I am responsible for leading and developing Knowit Dataunit both strategically and operationally. This means setting a clear direction, supporting our staff, and ensuring that we deliver value to our customers. At the same time, I retain the role of Head of Defence, which means continued responsibility for the defence investment that Knowit is making.
What is at the top of your agenda for the next six months?
My focus is on getting to know the organisation even better, meeting our customers, and working with the management team to establish a clear strategic plan. In parallel, I will continue to drive the group's initiatives within the defence domain in order to strengthen Sweden's Total Defence (Totalförsvar).
NDS has previously interviewed, among others, Johan Magnusson and Karin Swanson in this series. If you know someone who would be suitable for this interview series, or feel that you yourself would be a good fit, NDS can be reached at news@nordicdefencesector.com — please mark the email "New in the Job".