Tobias Billström joins Nordic Air Defence as Director of Strategy and Government Affairs. 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 more than thirty years of experience in politics at all levels in Sweden, having served as a Member of Parliament for twenty years and as a minister for ten years. I also served as Foreign Minister, during which time I was responsible for the Swedish process of joining NATO.
Why did you choose to work in the defence sector?
I stepped away from politics after a job well done and was curious about where my experience could be put to best use. Defence and security companies are naturally closely aligned with my previous role as head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, so looking in that direction felt natural. I also worked briefly as a consultant for the company Novare, helping to build an EU/NATO programme for senior business executives.
What drew you to the position at Nordic Air Defence?
The CEO and founder Karl Rosander reached out and asked whether I would be interested in joining the company. I thought Nordic Air Defence seemed exciting! This is the absolute technological frontier of modern warfare. Anti-drone capabilities that are both cost-effective and high-tech are likely to be among the most critical requirements in the air defence of Sweden, the EU, and NATO. Being able to work on shaping the business strategy is therefore meaningful in so many respects.
What does your new role involve?
I am responsible for the strategic work of establishing Nordic Air Defence as the central defence industry player the company intends to be. This means that planning across various aspects of both sales and business development is one of my primary tasks. The environment in which we operate — with regulations for defence products that are highly specific and with government agency contacts forming an automatic part of doing business — means I can bring valuable perspective. Added to that are, of course, the opportunities presented by the international market.
What is at the top of your agenda for the next six months?
Ensuring that the products Nordic Air Defence is developing can become part of the capabilities of both the Swedish Armed Forces and our allies. That requires orders and contracts, and for me — just as for the rest of the leadership team — that will be priority number one.
Nordic Defence Sector (NDS) has previously interviewed, among others, Johan Magnusson and Karin Swanson in this series. If you know someone who would be a good fit for this interview series, or feel that you yourself would be suitable, NDS can be reached at news@nordicdefencesector.com — please mark the email "New on the Job".