Volvo picks chief to fill Olsson’s shoes
Volvo has appointed Fredrik Arp as group chief executive. Arp replaces Hans-Olov Olsson, who becomes group chairman.
Arp, who is currently chief executive of Swedish engineering company Trelleborg, will join Volvo in October. He will also take over the role of president from Olsson, who is nearing retirement after 39 years at Volvo.
Volvo is part of Ford’s luxury unit, Premier Automotive Group (PAG). Executive vice-president of PAG and Ford of Europe Mark Fields says: “Volvo has a strong business and is a great brand. Fredrik Arp’s challenge is to lead the further growth of the Volvo business.”
Volvo has recently broken away from traditional car advertising: at the end of last year, it ran an unconventional documentary-style commercial featuring conversations between two people who had overcome adversity. Its European advertising account is held by Amsterdam-based MVBMS Fuel Europe.
Euro RSCG/Fuel Europe set up a London headquarters earlier this year after winning Jaguar’s $100m (£55m) global advertising account (MW March 24).
Jaguar was said to be impressed with the network’s work and the decision to set up a London office sidestepped a conflict with Euro RSCG’s Peugeot and Citroën accounts.